Improvements Needed in Providing Security at Overseas Posts

摘要

The State Department started the Security Enhancement Program in 1980 as a response to mob violence against U.S. Embassies in Iran, Pakistan, Libya, and El Salvador. Physical improvements made at overseas posts under this program are aimed at protecting personnel and classified material for a few hours until the host government can bring the situation under control. State Department officials overestimated the number of posts they could improve each year. Inadequate planning, coordination, and property management caused delays in the implementation of security improvements. Strengthened program management can reduce the time it takes to make such improvements. In this report, GAO reviews State Department implementation of the program and makes recommendations to the Secretary of State to overcome management problems.