On February 14, 2020, the Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) issued its fifth and final classified report on Operation Yukon Journey (OYJ)—the overseas contingency operation designated by the Secretary of Defense in February 2018 to degrade al Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated terrorists in the Middle East. As required by the Inspector General Act, the Lead IG reported on OYJ and provided the classified report to the federal agencies and congressional committees.
Pursuant to Section 8L of the Inspector General Act, Lead IG responsibilities and authorities cease at the end of the first fiscal year in which the total amount appropriated for the contingency operation is less than $100 million. Based on our review of FY 2019 appropriations and related information, less than $100 million was appropriated for OYJ during FY 2019. As a result, Lead IG responsibilities for OYJ met the sunset provision of Section 8L of the Inspector General Act at the end of FY 2019.
Lead IG agencies have included joint strategic oversight plans for OYJ in the classified sections of the FY 2019 and FY 2020 Comprehensive Oversight Plan for Overseas Contingency Operations since its designation as an overseas contingency operation. Oversight of activities related to this ongoing counterterrorism operation and diplomatic and humanitarian missions will continue under the individual statutory authorities of the Inspectors General of the DoD, Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.