DIA OIG Semiannual Report to Congress, October 1, 2020-March 31, 2021

I am honored to present the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR). The following report highlights DIA OIG accomplishments from October 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021. This report encompasses my team’s resiliency, dedication, and rigor throughout the reporting period.
Although my team faced significant challenges to detect fraud, waste, and abuse during the pandemic, I am pleased to say they prospered while doing so. They brought inspiring and refreshing ideas to the table, improved our reports, including our SAR, and worked to issue 25 recommendations and close 21 this reporting period. While you look through our SAR, you will notice a few alterations—most notably—our refreshed appearance, detailed summaries of our ongoing work, and the inclusion of our recommendations. We have always made it our mission to increase the transparency of our work. We hope our readers gain a greater understanding of our oversight work through these most recent adjustments to this report.
We issued meaningful and timely reports, one of which was the evaluation of the Agency’s implementation of section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, through which we found $1.5 million in questioned costs. This allowed the Agency to address the issue immediately and prevent the Agency from providing additional inappropriate reimbursements to DIA contract companies. In addition, through our audit of DIA’s unplanned price changes, we found that the Agency could have saved $176,000 by properly analyzing and negotiating escalated contract prices. We were also sure to execute statutory projects through the evaluation of Federal Information Security Modernization—also known as FISMA—and the audit of DIA’s financial statements. Lastly, we assessed whether the Agency was in compliance with Executive Order 13950, “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” and found that it was.
We completed inspection and evaluation work that was just as significant with our evaluations of DIA’s classification authorities and procedures and the Agency’s management of the Department of Defense All-Source Analysis Professional Certification Program. We also completed a study to determine the Agency’s response to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to improve DIA health and safety measures. Through this work, we made recommendations and suggestions to the Agency regarding the proper marking and sharing of classified information, the implementation of a well-rounded Department program for which it is responsible, and the enhancement of safety and health standards to keep the Agency’s greatest asset—its workforce—free from COVID-19.
In addition, our investigative efforts showed no signs of slowing during the pandemic. As the first-line connection to complainants, it was critical to remain available and responsive to notifications of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. This period we opened 28 investigative cases, closed 10 cases, and reviewed over 6,000 incoming Hotline contacts. We substantiated allegations of reprisal for two cases—one of which also substantiated an abuse of authority allegation. Furthermore, we identified a nearly $17,000 loss to the Government through substantiated allegations of time and labor fraud and cost mischarging.
I am constantly amazed and proud to lead this staff. Their professionalism and enthusiasm are a daily reminder of the work we are pleased to produce. My team’s work, diligence, and attention to detail continue to compel management action, creating an effective and efficient Defense Intelligence Agency.