Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

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The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is the U.S. government's leading

Public Law 110-181 directs SIGAR to submit a quarterly report to Congress.[2] This congressionally-mandated report summarizes SIGAR's audits and investigative activities. The report also provides an overview of reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and includes a detailed statement of all obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with reconstruction.^[3]

As part of its legislative mandate, SIGAR tracks the status of U.S. funds appropriated, obligated, and disbursed for reconstruction activities in Afghanistan in the Quarterly Report. As of September 30, 2019, the United States had appropriated approximately $132.55 billion for relief and reconstruction in Afghanistan since FY 2002. These funds have been allocated into four major areas:

• $82.55 billion for security ($4.57 billion for
  counternarcotics
  initiatives)
• $34.46 billion for governance and development ($4.37 billion for counternarcotics initiatives)
• $3.85 billion for humanitarian aid
• $11.70 billion for civilian operations^[4]

History

Creation

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction was created with the enactment of Public Law 110-181 when President George W. Bush signed H.R. 4986 on January 28, 2008.

Leadership

In 2012, President

The inspector general post was previously held by Steve Trent (acting), Herb Richardson (acting), and Arnold Fields.

Since being appointed, Sopko has testified multiple times before Congress on behalf of SIGAR.^[5][6]

Gene Aloise joined SIGAR on September 4, 2012 as the deputy inspector general. In this role, he oversees day-to-day operations of the agency and assists the inspector general in executing SIGAR's mission. Aloise came to SIGAR from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), where he served for 38 years. He has years of experience developing, leading, and managing GAO domestic and international work. His experience includes assignments with congressional committees as well as various offices within GAO.

Staffing and locations

According to the organization's October 2014 Report to Congress, SIGAR employed 197 federal employees. The report noted that SIGAR has 29 employees at the U.S. Embassy Kabul and eight other employees in Afghan locations outside the U.S. Embassy. SIGAR staff members were stationed at four locations across the country, including

• In October 2014, over two dozen SIGAR staffers were recognized for outstanding achievements at the 17th Annual Inspector General Community awards ceremony. The awards included the Sentner award, two awards for audit excellence and two awards for excellence special act.[7]
• In October 2012, SIGAR Audit and Investigative Teams won CIGIE Awards for Excellence. The awards included the Sentner award, an award for audit excellence and an investigation award for excellence.^[8]
• In May 2012, SIGAR special agents received a Public Service Award today from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their work in a major bribery case in Afghanistan.
• In October 2011, a SIGAR audit team was presented the Sentner Award for Dedication and Courage for its work in Laghman Province auditing the Commander's Emergency Response Program.
• In October 2011, another SIGAR team won an Award for Excellence for its audit of Afghan National Security Force facilities.^[9]

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) recognition & assistance

SIGAR, and its reports, findings and information, have also been widely discussed and distributed on Capitol Hill, the

The Washington Post has filed FOIA lawsuits for government documents related to documents produced by the agency's Lessons Learned Program. While the legal matter is pending before Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, unedited transcripts of interviews have been released which reveal a pattern of disinformation on the part of U.S. government officials.^[11]

Oversight activity

Audits

SIGAR's Audits Directorate conducts audits and inspections of reconstruction activities in Afghanistan. These audits are aimed at a range of programs and activities to fulfill SIGAR's legislative mandate. They identify problems associated with the United States' reconstruction effort, and make recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

SIGAR's audits range from assessments of program direction to narrower examinations of specific contracts or aspects of contract and program management. SIGAR's inspections are quick-impact assessments to determine whether infrastructure projects have been properly constructed, are being used as intended, and can be sustained. SIGAR also conducts forensic reviews of reconstruction funds managed by the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. These forensic reviews identify anomalies that may indicate fraud.

Investigations

The Investigations Directorate conducts criminal and civil investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse relating to programs and operations supported with U.S. funds allocated for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Results are achieved through criminal prosecutions, civil actions, forfeitures, monetary recoveries and suspension and debarments.

To accomplish its mission, SIGAR has full federal law enforcement authority through its enabling legislation as defined by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. SIGAR's Special Agents investigate crimes involving federal procurement fraud, contract fraud, theft, corruption, bribery of government employees and public officials, and a variety of civil matters pertaining to waste and abuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

• As of the October 2014 Quarterly Report SIGAR had 322 ongoing investigations.^[12][13][14]

Special Projects

SIGAR's Special Projects team was created to examine emerging issues and deliver prompt, actionable reports to federal agencies and the Congress. Special Project's reports cover a wide range of programs and activities and the office is made up of auditors, analysts, investigators, lawyers, subject-matter experts and other specialists who can quickly and jointly apply their expertise to emerging problems and questions.^[15]

Partners

Under its enabling legislation, SIGAR coordinates with and receives the cooperation of the following organizations while conducting oversight of U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan:

• Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense
• Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State
• Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development

SIGAR and the inspectors general for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Defense Department and Department of State have jointly developed and agreed to a strategic plan for oversight of the roughly $104 billion in U.S. funds appropriated for Afghanistan reconstruction.^[16]

See also

• Afghanistan Papers

External links

• Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Official website
• Appearances by John Sopko on C-SPAN

Recent quarterly reports

• January 30, 2017 Quarterly Report to Congress
• October 30, 2016 Quarterly Report to Congress

Recent reports

• What We Need to Learn: Lessons from Twenty Years of Afghanistan Reconstruction
• Counternarcotics Police of Afghanistan: U.S. Assistance to Provincial Units Cannot Be Fully Tracked and Formal Capability Assessments Are Needed
• Pol-i-Charkhi Prison: After 5 Years and $18.5 Million, Renovation Project Remains Incomplete
• Special Report: Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan, 2012 and 2013
• Inquiry Letter: Communication Trucks
• 2015: "World's most expensive gas station"^[17]

References