The Defense Department Office of Inspector General is launching a review of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. campaign against Iran to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear threat.
The IG, Platte B. Moring, will oversee the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in reviewing the military action, USAID officials said Wednesday
The “whole of government” review is mandated by the Inspector General Act, which requires the appointment of a lead inspector general when a military operation goes longer than 60 days.
“This lead Inspector General designation not only follows the framework required in the IG Act. It also reflects the extensive experience of the [IG] with the comprehensive oversight of overseas contingency operations,” Mr. Moring said in a statement. “We are collaborating closely with our colleagues to promote accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayers’ dollars.”
Van Nguyen, acting inspector general for USAID, said the review will ensure “rigorous transparency and accountability” over any foreign assistance dollars connected to Operation Epic Fury.
“USAID will hold accountable all parties that defraud or divert taxpayer dollars, or evade U.S. sanctions against Iranian state actors,” Mr. Nguyen said.
Last week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Democrat, called for the designation of a lead inspector general to review Epic Fury, which she called a “reckless and illegal war against Iran.” The letter was sent to Cheryl L. Mason, chairwoman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.
Ms. Duckworth said IG investigations of U.S. military operations have promoted valuable transparency and accountability across presidential administrations and enable federal agencies to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars.
“The need for you to appoint a lead IG to advance these aims and conduct joint, comprehensive, and independent oversight of contingency operations against Iran has never been greater,” she wrote. “The Trump administration’s explanations of the President’s purported mission, lines of effort, and desired end states with respect to Iran are constantly shifting, and often contradict themselves.”
