Message from the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Inspector General

I am pleased to present this Semiannual Report to the Congress, covering the oversight activities of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of State (Department) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025. OIG is responsible for the oversight of more than $89 billion in Department and USAGM programs and operations. We also provide oversight for the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, U.S. Section (USIBWC), a federal agency operating under the foreign policy guidance of the Department. 

In March, the Department began to consolidate selected functions of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Department. OIG has prioritized our new oversight responsibilities stemming from this reorganization, and related projects completed during this reporting period are summarized herein. We also continue to prioritize top management and performance challenges facing the Department and USAGM, outlined in the annual Inspector General Statement on the Department of State’s Major Management and Performance Challenges and the Inspector General Statement on theU.S. Agency for Global Media’s Major Management and Performance Challenges.

During this reporting period, we identified approximately $26 million in monetary benefits, including $189,000 in questioned costs, $4.3 million in funds put to better use, and $22 million in investigative monetary results. The Department made a management decision on approximately $233 million in potential monetary benefits identified by OIG during the current and prior reporting periods. OIG issued 44 reports to improve the programs and  operations of the agencies we oversee and closed 399 recommendations associated with 112 reports; 38 recommendations were significant and demonstrated implementation of  crucial corrective actions by the Department, USAGM, and USIBWC.

I am honored to lead our mission-driven workforce dedicated to delivering meaningful  results to the American people. I am grateful to them and to the Department, USAGM, USIBWC, and Congress for their support of our efforts. 

Arne B. Baker
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Inspector General 
December 17, 2025