Audit of Department of State Protocols for Establishing and Operating Remote Diplomatic Missions

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Date Issued

Friday, July 30, 2021

Submitting OIG

Department of State OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of State OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of State

Components

Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance

Report Number

AUD-MERO-21-33

Report Type

Audit

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the regional bureaus, develop and implement guidance to include criteria, standards, and other direction, as appropriate, for opening and closing those missions that may temporarily establish operations outside of their respective host countries. The guidance should include criteria and standards to inform when, where, and how such missions should be established.
2	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the regional bureaus, develop guidance requiring regional bureaus to implement a process to periodically reevaluate the status of those missions that have temporarily established operations outside of their respective host countries to determine whether those missions should continue to exist in their current form.
3	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the regional bureaus and the Office of the Legal Adviser, develop and implement guidance regarding the creation, content, and periodic reevaluation of memoranda of understanding to facilitate working relationships and resource sharing agreements between those missions that have temporarily established operations outside of their host countries and their respective host missions.
4	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the regional bureaus, develop and implement a template for the memoranda of understanding that can be used to facilitate working relationships and resource sharing agreements between those missions that have temporarily established operations outside of their host countries and their respective host missions.
7	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser and the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, develop and implement guidance in the Foreign Affairs Handbook, 12 FAH-1 Addendum 2.1, for those missions that have temporarily established operations outside of their host countries to consult with the Office of the Legal Adviser, and Bureaus of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services and Overseas Buildings Operations for legal, financial, and operational information to determine retention or disposition of leased property.
14	No	$0	$0
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the regional bureaus, develop and implement guidance regarding the day-to-day operations of remote missions with a focus on those functions that may be impacted by operating remotely such as the provision of consular services, security operations, and managing diplomatic relations.