Open Recommendations

(U) Rec. B.2.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Chief Information Officer and Authorizing Official, in coordination with the Defense Information Systems Agency Chief Information Officer, conduct a risk assessment of the DoD data stored, processed, or transmitted by the hardware, software, cloud services, networks, and any other tools used by the Defense Digital Service to determine whether the DoD data were and are appropriately protected in accordance with DoD cybersecurity and cloud security policies.

(U) Rec. B.2.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Chief Information Officer and Authorizing Official, in coordination with the Defense Information Systems Agency Chief Information Officer, conduct a risk assessment of the DoD data stored, processed, or transmitted by the hardware, software, cloud services, networks, and any other tools used by the Defense Digital Service to determine whether any DoD data were spilled, compromised, or potentially compromised, and if so, immediately initiate mitigating and remedial actions to protect DoD information, including personally identifiable information, in accordance with DoD policies.

(U) Rec. B.3: The DoD OIG recommended that after completion of Recommendations B.1 and B.2, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer develop and implement a plan of actions and milestones to bring any out-of-compliance hardware, software, cloud services, networks, and other tools used by the Defense Digital Service and other Office of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Components into compliance with DoD policies.

(U) Rec. B.4.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer develop and implement a formal process for all Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office directorates to follow when requesting waivers of DoD policies and guidance that, at a minimum, requires documentation of the request, justification for the request, and the approval or denial from the policy's issuing DoD Component.

(U) Rec. B.4.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer develop and implement a formal process for all Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office directorates to follow when requesting waivers of DoD policies and guidance that, at a minimum, requires documentation of the Office of the Secretary of Defense's approval and notification in writing to the policy's issuing DoD Component of the approval of the waiver, if the Office of the Secretary of Defense overrides the denial of the waiver by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Principal Staff Assistant or DoD Component head…

(U) Rec. B.4.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer develop and implement a formal process for all Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office directorates to follow when requesting waivers of DoD policies and guidance that, at a minimum, requires maintenance of the documentation created as a result of the implementation of Recommendations B.1.a and B.1.b in accordance with Federal and DoD records management requirements.

(U) Rec. B.5: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer implement Recommendations B.1, B.2, and B.3 for all the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office directorates.

Ensure that the contractual requirements included in applicable Department directives are flowed down to the support subcontractors or define specific reporting requirements for when an event occurs such as a ransomware attack.

Implement more effective oversight of data protection by the Information Technology Services Directorate, such as a review process, to determine what data should be backed up and ensure that appropriate corrective actions are taken.

Develop and conduct contingency plan and incident response testing exercises that include and/or mimic a ransomware event and incorporate the lessons learned into the site’s recovery and response capabilities.

"Develop and implement a process to perform continuous monitoring activities to
fully evaluate third-party providers’ information technology environments for security changes or threats."

Conduct an analysis or risk assessment that evaluates ransomware threats and the cost to fully recover from a ransomware event, including considerations in the Department’s guidance on Analyzing Ransomware Risk: A Blueprint for Quantification.

The Mint Director ensures the Mint considers additional procedures to oversee refiners including, but not limited to, obtaining and periodically reviewing documentation from the Mint’s approved refineries, such as the LBMA-required third party audits and supporting documentation, to ensure that refineries are sourcing gold responsibly in accordance with U.S. law and the best interests of the U.S. Government.

The Mint Director ensures the Mint within 30 days of issuance of this report, develops a plan that outlines the steps and controls the Mint will implement to comply with Public Law 99-185 and Public Law 109-145 in the production of gold coins which includes a review of the Mint’s current methodology to ensure it complies with U.S. law. As part of this review, the Mint should publish its procedures for acquiring newly mined U.S. gold in the Federal Register. Furthermore, the Mint needs to update its website for accuracy and its BOAs and operating procedures to ensure that these…

Treasury’s Risk and Control Group (RCG) work with OCA management to consider all information available when answering risk assessment questions to ensure adequate completion and conclusion of susceptibility for these program-specific risk assessments.

Treasury’s RCG require OCA management to conduct and provide an updated analysis and justification memo that takes into consideration known and likely improper payments made to recipients at all levels as reflected in audits and other information, that might impact its conclusion on whether payment recapture audits are cost-effective for its pandemic relief programs.

We recommend the DHS Chief Financial Officer ensure that FEMA conducts testing and reporting of improper payments plus unknown payments of the Public Assistance Validate As You Go program in compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019.

We recommend the DHS Chief Financial Officer ensure that DHS’ Risk Management and Assurance Division follows OMB requirements for programs that do not comply with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, as stated in Appendix C of OMB Circular A-123.

Rec. 2: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness update DoD Directive 1344.10 to include a requirement for the Services and the National Guard Bureau to provide guidance and training on partisan and nonpartisan political activities to all Service members at least each presidential election year.

Finalize the improper payment alignment strategy for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance computations overpayment deficiency dollars.

Update Handbook 4000.1 to require servicers to share information regarding foreclosure moratoriums with borrowers.

Review the two loans in our sample that did not receive appropriate servicing and take administrative actions if appropriate.

(U) Rec. B.2: The DoD OIG recommended that the Executive Director of the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island request the Defense Contract Audit Agency perform a review of the 50 invoices totaling $133,401,705.89 to verify whether contractor-reported direct and indirect costs were allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

(U) Rec. A.1: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command revalidate the Care of Supplies in Storage requirements in Army Technical Manual 38-470 to determine whether the requirements are operationally realistic and cost effective for Army Prepositioned Stock and revise Army Technical Manual 38-470, as appropriate.

(U) Rec. A.2.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Executive Director for the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island direct the Procuring Contracting Officer for the Army Prepositioned Stock-5 contract to take action to enforce or relieve the Army Prepositioned Stock-5 contractor of Care of Supplies in Storage requirements based on guidance from the Commander of the Army Sustainment Command's implementation of Recommendation A.1 to revalidate Army Technical Manual 38-470 requirements.