May 28, 1999

Inspection of the Department of Energy’s Export Licensing Process for Dual-Use and Munitions Commodities

On August 26, 1998, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs requested that the Inspectors General from the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, State, and Treasury, and the Central Intelligence Agency, update and expand on a 1993 interagency review of the export licensing processes for dual-use and munitions commodities. After consideration of the Chairman's request, the Inspectors General initiated and interagency review to evaluate the export licensing process for dual-use commodities and munitions to determine whether current practices and procedures are consistent with established national security and foreign policy objectives. In a joint letter dated September 2, 1998, the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the House Select Committe on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China requested the interagency review of the export licensing process be expedited.