International Trade Administration: U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Is Addressing Foreign Service Personnel Management Issues

摘要

The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 directs the Office of Inspector General to conduct periodic audits of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) and to report to the Congress the results of such audits. The act specifies that the audits are to include an evaluation of US&FCS's management of its foreign service personnel system and the placement of domestic- and foreign-based personnel. This report presents our latest review of US&FCS's management of the personnel system and its resource allocation methodology. The act also specifies that the OIG will review US&FCS's program to integrate the domestic civil service and foreign service personnel systems. This program was recently reviewed by another OIG unit. US&FCS is the primary federal organization responsible for promoting and facilitating the export of goods and services of U.S. businesses. US&FCS provides export assistance to U.S. companies through a network of domestic and overseas field offices. US&FCS officials are responsible for determining levels of financial and personnel resources required, based in part on US&FCSs overseas and domestic resource allocation models, and monitoring program implementation overseas.