DHS OIG Congressional Bulletin July 2022, Vol. 2 Feb - June

From the Desk of Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari

As part of my commitment to keep Congress, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the public informed of the important work of the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), it is my pleasure to present the second publication of the DHS OIG Congressional Bulletin for Fiscal Year 2022.  This bulletin provides a snapshot of published DHS OIG audit and inspection reports, new projects initiated, and investigative outcomes.

I am pleased to report sustained progress in implementing the twenty-one recommendations outlined by GAO in their 2021 report, DHS Office of Inspector General: Actions Needed to Address Long-Standing Management Weaknesses (GAO-21-316).  At this point in time we have submitted eight recommendations to GAO for closure and so far they have closed one.  GAO has indicated they plan to keep some recommendations open to monitor long-term implementation.  DHS OIG looks forward to continued cooperation as we work closely with GAO to ensure we implement an organizational transformation consistent with appropriate standards.  

The results of our organizational transformation are also reflected in our most recent Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) scores.  Since 2019, we have achieved significant increases in every employee engagement index.  Most notably, the “Leaders Lead” category has improved by 22 percentage points. This year, DHS OIG outperformed the government-wide average in every employee engagement index.   Each year, the Partnership for Public Service (PPS) releases annual “Best Places to Work in Federal Government” rankings, which rely on the FEVS data described above. This year we saw a 6.9% increase in PPS’s engagement and satisfaction score; our highest score since 2010, and the second highest ever for DHS OIG. PPS’s scoring also showed our highest scores ever for Effective Leadership, Teamwork, Innovation, and Employee Recognition. DHS OIG’s increased engagement is reflected throughout our work, including the increased productivity and work quality detailed in this bulletin.

I am proud of our DHS OIG workforce and their collaborative efforts to achieve our mission.  Thank you for your interest in our work as we continue to uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity - our mission is more critical than ever.