The Department of Energy’s inspector general has said it partly substantiated allegations of mismanagement in the department’s Office of Special Operations but the evidence did not support a number of allegations that were raised.
The special operations office – located in the Office of Health, Safety and Security – is charged with protecting the Energy secretary and other designated staff, and it receives assistance from agents in the office of secure transportation.
Complaints included inadequate training, mismanagement of resources such as failure to provide appropriate body armor, and a lack of implementation of recommendations for improvement, the IG said.
It noted that special operations agents generally described their work environment as one sapped by low morale, and that certain operational training had not been completed and individual purchases of body armor were not made between 2007 and 2012.
However, the IG said it did not substantiate a number of other specific allegations involving issues such as failure to complete recommended actions.
In response, management concurred with the recommendations and agreed to take corrective action to address the concerns raised by Special Operations agents and to ensure that the executive protection function is operating as effectively as possible.