U.S. Reconstruction Efforts in Afghanistan: Key High-Risk Areas to Persist into Future
Abstract
This statement explains the FY 2020 budget request for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). The statement describes SIGARs successes, challenges to accomplishing its mission, and steps taken to overcome or mitigate these challenges. In keeping with the agencys oversight mission, this statement also touches on key management and program challenges facing State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Defense (DOD) by noting areas of high risk that SIGAR has identified. Since FY 2002, Congress has appropriated approximately $132.3 billion to rebuild Afghanistan. For FY 2020, the President has requested $533 million in Afghanistan-related funding via the State Department budget. The President has also requested more than$4.8 billion in the Department of Defense (DOD) budget to train, equip, and sustain the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF). Another $10.8 billion from previous years reconstruction appropriations remains available for disbursement. SIGARs mission is to ensure that all these funds are spent as effectively and efficiently as possible, and that they are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse. Our enabling legislation also directs SIGAR to keep Congress and the Secretaries of State and Defense informed on reconstruction issues and to offer recommendations for improvement. Embedded in States overall request is SIGARs FY 2020 budget request of $52.9 million. The amount sought is $2 million less than provided in each of the last two fiscal years. We believe the requested funding level is adequate to continue meeting SIGARs congressional mandate. However, the $2 million reduction does limit SIGARs ability to adapt to the rapidly changing environment in Afghanistan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1137643
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction