Last week, leaders from the Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) for the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (State), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) concluded a joint trip to Ukraine, Poland, and Germany in furtherance of their coordinated oversight of the US Government’s Ukraine response efforts.
In Ukraine, OIG leaders met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, the leadership of the National Anti- Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Ukrainian civil society organizations, and other Ukrainian leaders to discuss efforts to ensure oversight and accountability of US programming to support Ukraine. US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A.
Brink accompanied the OIG delegation for most of these meetings, during which OIG leaders emphasized the importance of receiving timely and transparent access to information from the government of Ukraine to enhance the OIGs’ ability to conduct independent audits and investigations related to US-funded programmes and operations. The OIG leaders also underscored the need for independence, transparency, and accountability in Ukrainian institutions, including having adequate systems, staffing, and resources in place to ensure the integrity of government operations.
In Germany and Poland, the OIG delegation met with US Army Europe and Africa Command, the Security Assistance Group–Ukraine, and International Donation Coordination Center officials. Through these engagements, OIG leaders gained insights from officials on the ground to inform oversight of US security assistance, direct budget support, energy assistance, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Inspector General, Department of Defense, Robert P. Storch commented, “Engaging with these key stakeholders and international partners provides immediate perspective on this evolving operation, and is crucial to better understand the processes used to execute security assistance to Ukraine and the conditions and challenges on the ground. In coordination with our colleagues at the State and USAID OIGs, we will apply these insights and observations to our ongoing oversight of DoD support to Ukraine.”
Deputy Inspector General performing the duties of the Inspector General, Department of State, Diana Shaw commented, “Our time in Kyiv afforded us the opportunity to directly communicate American taxpayer expectations of transparency and accountability to the Ukrainian government officials responsible for ensuring that US assistance is deployed efficiently and effectively as Ukraine fights to win this war and its future. The importance of that message cannot be understated. State OIG, working in close coordination with our counterparts at USAID and DoD OIGs, is committed to rooting out any fraud, waste, or corrupt activities that would divert the assistance so pivotal to Ukraine’s ultimate success.”
Acting Deputy Inspector General performing the duties of the Inspector General for US Agency for International Development, Nicole Angarella commented, “It is critical for the American people to have confidence in the integrity of taxpayer dollars sent to support Ukraine and its people. Timely and impactful oversight of USAID’s Ukraine response is my office’s top priority and visits to Ukraine and neighboring countries are vital to building relationships and expanding sources of information to support our work. We welcome the commitments from Ukraine’s government and civil society organizations to provide Inspectors General the necessary access to further our independent audit and investigative work.”
Earlier this month, the three OIGs published the Joint Strategic Oversight Plan–Ukraine Response, highlighting 64 ongoing and planned oversight products and 14 completed products related to the US Ukraine response.
