Publicly Released: December 2, 2021
This report addresses the progress of the Department of Defense (DoD) toward implementing standardized policies and processes for reporting and tracking allegations of prohibited activities, as directed by Section 554 of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 554(b) requires the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) to establish standard policies, processes, and mechanisms that ensure that all allegations and related information that a member of a covered Armed Force has engaged in prohibited activity are referred to the DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG). It also requires the DoD to supply sufficient information to enable the DoD OIG to track the total number of investigations and inquiries conducted as a result of these allegations, the outcome of those investigations and inquiries, and any action taken.
Section 554(b) also requires the SecDef to submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing the implementation of policies, processes, and mechanisms related to prohibited activities involving covered Armed Forces. Further, Section 554(b) states that the report should include all referrals made to the DoD OIG during the preceding fiscal year involving allegations and relevant information of a member of a covered Armed Force who engaged in prohibited activities. The SecDef delegated the responsibility for submitting the annual report that is due December 1, 2021, to the DoD IG. This report covers the period beginning January 1 through September 30, 2021.
The DoD OIG will continue its oversight through audits and evaluations of the DoD’s efforts to prevent and respond to supremacist, extremist, and criminal gang activity by any member of the Armed Forces.