WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- FBI agents temporarily deployed to Iraq received an average of about $ 45,000 in excessive overtime because they billed the government for 16 hours a day throughout their 90-day assignments , according to a Justice Department audit . Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine released the audit on Thursday . The audit , released Thursday by Inspector General Glenn Fine , found the agents routinely submitted the overtime with the blessing of their managers from 2003 through 2007 . The report says the excessive overtime totaled $ 7.8 million . `` The FBI inappropriately permitted employees to regularly claim overtime for activities that are not compensable as work , such as time spent eating meals , exercising more than 3 hours per week , and socializing , '' the report said . The socializing included going to movies and cocktail parties . The FBI promptly responded to the report , acknowledging the overtime policy was designed to encourage FBI employees to volunteer for Iraq duty , but should not have been used and has now been corrected . The 88-page report documenting the overtime issues found the FBI had initially approved the policy of paying for 16-hour days because conditions were harsh , there were few recreational opportunities and employees were always `` on call . '' But the audit said that violates federal pay guidelines . The FBI admitted that `` a flawed system was allowed to develop and remain in place too long , '' but it also sought to explain how the practice started . `` Early in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq FBI managers traveled to those war zones and saw first hand the challenges of a 24/7 threat environment . FBI employees lived with sniper attacks , mortar fire , and roadside bombs as part of their daily work environment . They attempted to adapt a long established domestic pay system for domestic law enforcement to unprecedented wartime assignments for FBI personnel . '' FBI agents in Iraq perform a variety of duties , according to the bureau 's Web site . Agents interview suspected terrorists captured by the military ; gather intelligence ; collect evidence from crime scenes like car bombs or mass graves ; and investigate crimes committed by Americans against Iraqis , as well as those that Iraqis commit against their fellow citizens . The inspector general 's report said overtime pay was less excessive for FBI personnel in Afghanistan . The report also found that somewhat less excessive overtime was paid to agents from other Justice Department agencies who were sent to Iraq , including deputy marshals , and ATF and DEA agents .
FBI agents in Iraq each received an average of $ 45,000 in excessive overtime . Audit finds agents submitted overtime with managers ' blessing . FBI acknowledges error but says policy was to encourage voluntary sign-ups .