State Department Domestic Security Lapses And Status Of Overseas Security Enhancements

Author : United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 138 pages
Book Rating : 4.36/5 ( download)

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Download or read book State Department Domestic Security Lapses and Status of Overseas Security Enhancements written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 136 pages
Book Rating : 4.25/5 ( download)

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Download or read book State Department Domestic Security Lapses and Status of Overseas Security Enhancements written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author :
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1428931775
Total Pages : 49 pages
Book Rating : 4.70/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Overseas security State Department has not fully implemented key measures to protect U.S. officials from terrorist attacks outside of embassies written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2005 with total page 49 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Jess T. Ford (au)
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781422301029
Total Pages : 50 pages
Book Rating : 4.28/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Overseas Security written by Jess T. Ford (au) and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2005-09 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. government officials working overseas are at risk from terrorist threats. Since 1968, 32 embassy officials have been attacked -- 23 fatally -- by terrorists outside the embassy. As the State Dept. continues to improve security at U.S. embassies, terrorist groups are likely to focus on softÓ targets -- such as homes, schools, & places of worship. This report determines: whether the State Dept. has a strategy for soft target protection; assesses State's efforts to protect U.S. officials & their families while traveling to & from work; assesses State's efforts overseas to improve security at schools attended by the children of U.S. officials; & describe issues related to protection at their residences. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

Author : United States. General Accounting Office
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4.52/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Embassy Security : State Department Efforts to Improve Security Overseas written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Michael J. Courts
Publisher : U.S. Government Accountability Office
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 58 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Download or read book Diplomatic Security: Key Oversight Issues written by Michael J. Courts and published by U.S. Government Accountability Office. This book was released on 2017-09-07 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In response to increasing threats to U.S. personnel and facilities at overseas diplomatic posts since 1998, the Department of State (State) has taken a number of steps to enhance its risk management and security efforts. State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Diplomatic Security) leads many of these efforts with assistance from other bureaus and U.S. government agencies. Given the ongoing threats and the amount of resources needed to counter them, GAO has identified 11 key issues regarding Diplomatic Security that warrant significant Congressional oversight to monitor the cost, progress, and impact: Diplomatic Security Funding: Diplomatic Security funding has increased considerably in reaction to a number of security incidents overseas and domestically. In fiscal year 2016, total funding for Diplomatic Security operations--which includes its bureau managed funds as well as other funding such as personnel salaries--was almost $4.8 billion. Diplomatic Security Staffing Challenges: Diplomatic Security's workforce--including 3,488 direct-hire, 1,989 other U.S. government, and 45,870 contract personnel--continues to grow. However, potential challenges exist regarding the distribution of domestic and overseas positions, posting fully qualified individuals in the assignments with the greatest needs, and ongoing efforts to fill language-designated positions. Physical Security of U.S. Diplomatic Facilities: Diplomatic Security and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations collaborate to meet safety standards when constructing new embassies and mitigating risks at existing facilities. However, GAO made recommendations to address gaps in State's security related activities and processes. Physical Security of Diplomatic Residences and Other Soft Targets: State has taken steps to address residential security vulnerabilities and manage risks at schools and other soft targets overseas. However, GAO recommended actions to address weaknesses in State's efforts. Security Training Compliance: While State has robust security training requirements, it lacks consistent monitoring and enforcement processes, particularly for its Foreign Affairs Counter Threat training and for security refresher briefings at posts. Embassy Crisis and Evacuation Preparedness: Gaps in State's implementation and monitoring of crisis and evacuation preparedness could endanger staff assigned to overseas posts and the family members accompanying them. GAO has recommended actions to address these issues. Department of Defense (DOD) Support to U.S. Diplomatic Missions: Following the Benghazi attacks, DOD increased its support to U.S. diplomatic missions by creating dedicated military forces to respond to crises and expanding the Marine Security Guard program at overseas missions. However, State and DOD reported that they have experienced some logistical and other challenges. Dissemination of Threat Information: State has processes for communicating threat information to post personnel and U.S. citizens in-country. However, post personnel--including locally employed staff--have not always received important information in a timely manner. GAO has recommended steps State needs to take to address this concern. Countering Human Intelligence Threats: Foreign intelligence entities from host nations and third parties are motivated to collect information on U.S. operations and intentions. State has established measures to counter the human intelligence threat and works with other U.S. government agencies to identify and assess this threat. Ensuring Information Security: GAO has designated federal information security as a government-wide high-risk area and made recommendations to address these issues. State faces evolving threats and challenges to maintaining obsolete technology, defining clear roles and responsibilities for information security, and overseeing technology contractors. Status of Recommendations Made in Reports following the Benghazi Attack: In response to the Benghazi attack, State formed interagency teams to evaluate the security at 19 dangerous posts, convened an Accountability Review Board (ARB) to investigate the attack, and established panels to conduct further assessments. As of June 2017, State reported having addressed recommendations as follows: 268 of 287 made by the interagency teams, 26 of 29 by the ARB, and 64 of 75 by the panels. Terrorist attacks against U.S. diplomats and personnel overseas have led to increased attention of State's diplomatic security efforts. In this special publication, GAO identifies key issues affecting Diplomatic Security for Congressional oversight. These issues were identified from a body of related GAO work and State and other reports. GAO also interviewed U.S. officials from State and other agencies to obtain their views on key issues, obtain updated information and data, and follow up on actions they have taken on past GAO and other oversight report recommendations. What GAO Recommends: While State has taken steps to close recommendations made in past GAO reports, GAO identified 27 open recommendations from these reports (as of August 2017) that it believes should be given high priority for implementation. Of the 27 priority recommendations, 24 were related to diplomatic security.

Author : United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Subcommittee on International Operations
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 36 pages
Book Rating : 4.27/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Role of Security in the State Department Promotion Process written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Subcommittee on International Operations and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Jess T. Ford
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1437926673
Total Pages : 66 pages
Book Rating : 4.75/5 ( download)

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Download or read book State Department written by Jess T. Ford and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-06 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: State Department's (State) Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for the protection of people, information, and property at over 400 foreign missions and domestic locations. DS must be prepared to counter threats such as crime, espionage, and passport fraud, technological intrusions, political violence, and terrorism. This report assesses: (1) how DS's mission has evolved since 1998; (2) how its resources have changed over the last 10 years; and (3) the challenges it faces in conducting its missions. The auditor analyzed DS data; reviewed relevant documents; and interviewed officials at several domestic facilities and 18 international missions. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

Author : United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 76 pages
Book Rating : 4.61/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Diplomatic Security and Its Implications for U.S. Diplomacy written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Michael J. Courts
Publisher : U.S. Government Accountability Office
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 47 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Download or read book Diplomatic Security: State Department Should Better Manage Risks to Residences and Other Soft Targets Overseas written by Michael J. Courts and published by U.S. Government Accountability Office. This book was released on 2015-07-09 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What GAO Found The Department of State (State) conducts a range of activities to assess risks to residences overseas. For instance, State tracks information on overseas residences in its property database, establishes threat levels at overseas posts, develops security standards for different types of residences and threat levels, and requires posts to periodically conduct residential security surveys. However, 17 of the 68 surveys for residences GAO reviewed were untimely or missing. Without up-to-date security surveys of all its overseas residences, State's ability to identify and address vulnerabilities or make informed decisions about where to allocate resources for security upgrades is limited. State has taken steps to update its residential security standards; however, these updates have not been timely, and the standards are difficult to use. According to State officials, updating residential security standards should take about 75 days, but all three updates since 2005 took more than 3 years each. State is making efforts to improve the timeliness of such updates in response to a prior GAO recommendation. In addition, while federal internal control standards state that policy standards should be clear and consistent to support good decision making, State's standards and other security-related guidance for residences have gaps and inconsistencies, complicating posts' efforts to determine and apply the appropriate security measures and potentially leaving some residences at risk. State addresses security vulnerabilities at residences by installing various upgrades intended to help residences meet security standards, but 38 of the 68 residences GAO reviewed did not meet all applicable standards. For example, 8 residences did not meet the standards for perimeter barriers. When residences do not and cannot meet all applicable security standards, posts are required to request exceptions, which identify steps the posts will take to mitigate vulnerabilities. However, State had an exception on file for only 1 of the 38 residences that did not meet all applicable standards. As a result, State lacks key information that could provide it with a clearer picture of security vulnerabilities at residences and enable it to make better risk management decisions. State manages risks to schools and other soft targets overseas in several ways, but its efforts may be constrained by limited awareness of relevant guidance and tools. In fiscal years 2010 through 2015, State awarded almost 400 grants in total for security upgrades at schools and other soft targets. While federal internal control standards call for timely communication of relevant information to staff responsible for program objectives, officials at most of the posts GAO visited were unaware of some guidance and tools for securing schools and other soft targets. As a result, State may not be fully leveraging existing programs and resources for addressing security needs at these facilities. Why GAO Did This Study Since the 1998 East Africa bombings, U.S. diplomatic personnel working overseas have faced increasing threats to their safety and security. State has built many new embassies and consulates since 1998 and enhanced security measures at others. Increased security at such facilities has raised concerns that residences, schools, and other places where U.S. diplomatic personnel and their families congregate may be viewed by terrorists as more attractive “soft targets.” GAO was asked to review the security of residences and other soft targets overseas. GAO evaluated (1) how State assesses risks to U.S. diplomatic residences overseas; (2) the timeliness, clarity, and consistency of residential security standards; (3) how State addresses security vulnerabilities at residences; and (4) how State manages risks to other soft targets. GAO reviewed agency documents; met with officials in Washington, D.C.; and conducted fieldwork at a judgmental sample of seven higher-threat, higher-risk posts in four of State's six geographic regions. This is the public version of a sensitive but unclassified report issued in June 2015. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that State, among other things, institute procedures to ensure residential security surveys are completed as required, clarify its standards and security-related guidance for residences, develop procedures to ensure residences either meet standards or have exceptions on file, and take steps to ensure posts are aware of existing guidance and tools regarding the security of schools and other soft targets. State concurred with all of GAO's recommendations.