What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Buenos Aires.

What OIG Recommends
OIG made 18 recommendations: 17 to Embassy Buenos Aires and 1 to the Bureau of Information Resource Management. In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with 17 recommendations and did not fully concur with 1 recommendation. OIG considers all 18 recommendations resolved. The Department?s response to each recommendation, and OIG?s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The Department?s formal responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.

What OIG Found

• The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Buenos Aires in a professional and collaborative manner. They communicated clearly with embassy staff and emphasized diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.
• Aspects of internal control, safety, and security did not meet Department of State requirements and needed attention from embassy leadership.
• The embassy?s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was consistent with Department risk management standards.
• The embassy?s deletion of nonimmigrant visa records did not adhere to Department standards.
• The embassy?s fire protection program did not meet Department standards, and the embassy did not take steps to mitigate risks at the chancery. The embassy also did not mitigate fire risks in its high-rise residences.
• The embassy did not comply with Department standards regarding motor vehicle or driver safety standards.
• The embassy?s information technology infrastructure did not meet Department physical security and installation standards.