DHS OIG Congressional Bulletin February 2024, Vol. 5

From the Desk of Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D.

It is my pleasure to present the first Fiscal Year 2024 DHS OIG Congressional Bulletin.

On October 27, 2023, I signed our OIG Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR) for the period of April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023, and we were pleased to publish the SAR at the end of January.

Some notable numbers from the SAR reporting period include:

• $46,463,099 in questioned costs
• 156 investigations initiated and 143 investigations closed, resulting in 55 arrests, 69 indictments, 65 convictions, and 3 personnel actions
• $391,085,157.26 in recoveries, restitution, and fines from investigations

The SAR also includes summaries of attempts to restrict or delay access to information, including 9 instances where data access issues directly impacted our statutory obligations.

In a previous Bulletin, I mentioned our engagement with GAO.   I am happy to report that GAO has now closed 9 recommendations and deemed 5 “partially addressed.” I am grateful for our continued, successful partnership with GAO, which has been instrumental in helping us document the transformation of DHS OIG since my confirmation.

We continue to prioritize cyber vulnerabilities and have shifted our IT oversight from compliance-based audits to performance and technical-focused audits. We are conducting testing to uncover Department system vulnerabilities, e.g., by scanning component workstations, servers, domain controllers, databases, applications, and equipment. Our risk-based approach to address the highest threats to the Department includes:

• 4 completed and 5 ongoing audits on IT security controls;
• 1 completed audit of CISA’s cybersecurity risk detection/mitigation efforts; and
• 3 completed audits and 1 ongoing audit of CISA’s critical infrastructure protection.

Under my leadership, we will continue to focus on critical mission areas like cybersecurity to ensure that the Department is able to mitigate internal and external risks. I am proud of our DHS OIG workforce and their collaborative efforts to serve the American people.