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Report | Oct. 1, 2020

FY 2021 Comprehensive Oversight Plan for Overseas Contingency Operations

Lead IG

This Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021) Comprehensive Oversight Plan for Overseas Contingency Operations (COP–OCO) is the sixth annual joint strategic oversight plan submitted to Congress by the Lead Inspector General for Overseas Contingency Operations (Lead IG). This report describes the Lead IG and partner agencies’ oversight of U.S. activities in support of the ongoing overseas contingency operations.

The content and structure of the COP–OCO comply with the oversight requirements directed by Congress in the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. This COP–OCO includes the Joint Strategic Oversight Plans for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS).

Since the last COP-OCO was published, four overseas contingency operations have met the sunset provision contained in Section 8L of the IG Act. One of these operations, Operation Yukon Journey, no longer met the $100 million threshold for appropriated funds during FY 2019. For Operation Pacific Eagle – Philippines, the East Africa counterterrorism operation, and North and West Africa counterterrorism operation, the Secretary of Defense removed the overseas contingency operation designation in FY 2019, and therefore funds were not appropriated for these overseas contingency operations in FY 2020. This resulted, as a matter of law, in the sunset of those operations for Lead IG purposes as of the end of FY 2020. Oversight projects for these contingency operations that began in FY 2020 and have not been completed by the publication of this plan will continue. Lead IG and partner oversight agencies will publish their reports per agency procedures, and CIGIE agencies will report project completions in their semi-annual reports to Congress.

The FY 2021 COP-OCO includes four sections: one for each contingency operations, one for operations that previously required Lead IG oversight, and one for other projects generally related to contingency operations.

  • Section 1 contains the oversight plan for OIR, as well as the listing of all oversight projects and prior fiscal year published reports for OIR.
     
  • Section 2 contains the oversight plan for OFS, as well as the listing of all oversight projects and prior fiscal year published reports for OFS.
     
  • Section 3 contains ongoing oversight projects and prior fiscal year published reports for oversight projects related to contingency operations that previously required Lead IG oversight.
     
  • Section 4 contains planned and ongoing oversight projects and prior fiscal year published reports for other oversight projects related to contingency operations.

As of August 31, 2020, the Federal and Military Service oversight agencies have completed 184 projects during FY 2020, and reported findings and recommendations to improve internal controls, reduce costs, ensure safety, and improve operational efficiencies. Federal and Military Service oversight agencies continue to monitor, audit, and evaluate these overseas contingency operations, as well as other programs and activities within the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

As conditions in the overseas contingency operations change, Federal and Military Service oversight agencies may undertake additional oversight projects, and the COP-OCO will change accordingly. The Lead IG agencies will continue to promote this coordinated oversight effort across agency jurisdictional boundaries to assist Congress and agency leaders in making informed program, policy, and funding decisions.