This Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) Comprehensive Oversight Plan for Overseas Contingency Operations (COP–OCO) is the seventh 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, the U.S. Government announced the removal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. During the military drawdown, the Taliban took control of the country, ousting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. As a result, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul announced the suspension of operations and noted that the Embassy would continue to assist U.S. citizens and their families remaining in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar.
As of the publication of this plan, the DoD has not publicly announced an updated mission for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel to reflect the current conditions in Afghanistan. Additionally, the DoS had not officially announced the establishment or location of a remote Afghanistan Affairs Unit to replace U.S. Embassy Kabul. Instead, diplomatic and consular functions, as well as DoS and USAID management of Afghanistan-related assistance, continued remotely from multiple locations as plans for an Afghanistan Affairs Unit were being finalized.
During the drawdown, the United States led the largest noncombatant evacuation in history, airlifting more than 124,000 people from Afghanistan in less than a month. While the United States no longer has a diplomatic or military presence in Afghanistan, the U.S. Government intends to conduct its diplomatic mission and counterterrorism operations from over-the-horizon. In addition, the U.S. Government is actively assisting Afghan refugees through the resettlement process.
The FY 2022 COP-OCO includes four sections:
- 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 October 25, 2021, federal oversight agencies have completed 191 projects during FY 2021, and reported findings and recommendations to improve internal controls, reduce costs, ensure safety, and improve operational efficiencies. These 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, the 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.