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Read our report on six communities’ experiences with pandemic funding and programs, which provides valuable lessons learned to improve federal emergency response programs.

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In The News

2024

April

Report Cites Lessons for Federal Agencies from Pandemic Relief Efforts
: FEDweek
Bipartisan Bills Offered on Spending Oversight, Records Management
: FEDweek
Lawmakers propose extending pandemic analytics center beyond 2025 sunset
: Nextgov/FCW
Senate Bill Looks to Fight Spending Fraud With Successor to PRAC
: MeriTalk News

March

Fraud Mitigation Lessons from U.S. COVID-19 Response Aid
: AGA Publication Library
State and Federal governments will cut spending as COVID programs end this year
: KOKI-TV

February

2023 Inspector General Survey
: AGA Publication Library
COVID business loan fraud: Long Islanders bought luxury watches, yacht, vacation home with funds
: Newsday

January

Audit Finds EPA Reporting of Spending ‘Not Complete or Accurate’
: FEDweek

2023

December

Lawmakers push for federal prison oversight after reports of inadequate medical care
: NPR

November

GAO Urges Congress to Help Agencies Improve Fraud Risk Management Efforts
: MeriTalk News
Report: Bureau Of Prisons Not Getting Value From Accreditation Agency
: forbes.com
Lead pandemic watchdog urges lawmakers to extend COVID anti-fraud tool to all federal spending
: Federal News Network
GAO Recommends Strengthening Requirements for Reporting Agency Spending
: FEDweek
The Great Grift: COVID-19 fraudster used stolen relief aid to purchase a private island in Florida
: Associated Press
Internal documents reveal the story behind California’s unemployment crash
: Santa Maria Times

October

'Give us the data,' oversight and anti-fraud experts tell lawmakers
: Nextgov/FCW
USAID watchdog nominee says special Ukraine IG would be ‘less helpful’
: Federal Times
Winners of 13th Annual Granicus Digital Government Awards Announced
: GovLoop
Fergus Falls Burger King owes thousands in property taxes
: KVLY-TV

September

Health Care Staffing Issues Common Across Agencies, Says Report
: FEDweek
94% of government-funded nursing homes were short nurses during pandemic
: Becker's Hospital Review
Staffing crunch hit federal health facilities
: Axios
1 in 4 inmate deaths happens in the same federal prison. Why?
: NPR
$100B to $135B in unemployment benefit fraud from COVID aid, GOA says
: KGAN-TV
More Coordination among Agencies Needed on Identity Theft, Report Says
: FEDweek
Stolen Covid relief funds: New calls for accountability over biggest fraud in U.S. history
: NBC News
Beckley man pleads guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud
: WVNS-TV
Granicus Announces Finalists of 13th Annual Digital Government Awards
: GovLoop
Pandemic watchdog sees ‘target-rich environment’ for AI to track down fraudsters
: World News

August

Lubbock man gets 15 years in prison for defrauding pandemic relief programs of $4M
: EverythingLubbock
DoJ Seizes Over $1.4B in Stolen COVID-19 Relief Funds
: MeriTalk News
U.S. Department of Justice has seized $1.4B in pandemic relief funds
: The Center Square
CDOs tackle federal AI challenges and opportunities
: Federal News Network
Government Agencies Take to Twitter to Celebrate National Whistleblower Day
: Whistleblower Network News
Valley congressmen call for investigation into PPP loans given to Reedley lab's company
: KFSN-TV - ABC30
Stimulus fraud prevention isn’t a lost cause, it’s an opportunity for new tools and techniques
: Government Executive
$150,000 of forgiven PPP loans given to company linked to illegal Reedley lab
: KSEE-TV

July

Pandemic aid fraud inspector general: 'Not much surprises us anymore'
: WJAC-TV
Pandemic spending exposes weaknesses in how governments handle data
: Route Fifty
These Covid-19 pandemic-era relief programs are expiring soon
: CNN
Millions in taxpayer-funded Covid relief for schools wasted or unaccounted for, reports say
: The Center Square
Fact finder
: fraud-magazine.com
$190B Later, Reason to Worry Relief Funds Won’t Curb COVID’s Academic Crisis
: The 74
Review Raises Issues with Agency Data on Pandemic-Related Spending
: FEDweek
Want to track pandemic relief spending? Data problems make that difficult, committee says
: Nextgov
The Trillion-Dollar Grift: Inside the Greatest Scam of All Time
: Rolling Stone
North Texas execs charged in $53 million PPP fraud scheme
: The Dallas Morning News
Corporate Executives Indicted in $53 Million Federal Paycheck Protection Program Fraud
: The Texan

June

SSA built a system to help combat identity fraud. Backers say it’s ‘at risk of collapse’
: Federal News Network
Fraudsters Busted for Alleged $53M COVID Relief Fraud
: MeriTalk News
Investigators scramble to recover pandemic small business support lost to potential fraud
: Washington Examiner
SBA Potentially Lost $200 Billion In Covid Pandemic Relief To Fraud And Abuse, Government Watchdog Finds
: Forbes
U.S. officials charge 14 people in $53 million pandemic relief fraud scheme
: CBS News
More than $200 billion in COVID-19 pandemic relief wasted, watchdog says
: Fox Business Network
More than $200 billion in pandemic relief squandered, says government watchdog report
: ABC News
"Uno de los mayores fraudes de la historia": investigan el destino de ayudas por el COVID-19
: Telemundo Network
New reports shows hundreds of billions in COVID-19 relief aid money stolen or misspent
: WHP-TV
The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted
: AP (Hosted)
Advanced Analytics Is Changing How Agencies Fight Fraud
: FedTech

May

Fraud report: $38 million in pandemic relief aid sent to dead people
: The Center Square
More Sharing among Agencies of SSA Death Data Would Help Fight Fraud, Report Says
: FEDweek
Coronavirus Roundup: The Pandemic Public Health Emergency Is Over
: Government Executive
What Will -- and Won’t -- Change for Federal Agencies With the End of the COVID Health Emergency
: Government Executive
It’s not the first time this Puget Sound psychologist faces accusations he shortchanged workers
: The Seattle Times
Is your name on a fraudulent SBA emergency loan? Here’s how you can check
: WKMG-TV
Tallahassee couple sentenced in COVID-19 relief program scams
: WCTV-TV
The WA 'strike force' chasing millions in COVID-19 relief fraud
: Crosscut

April

Federal officials fear U.S. won’t pursue some unpaid covid aid loans
: The Washington Post
Tackling the biggest fraud in US history – pandemic relief
: The Christian Science Monitor

March

House lawmakers scrutinize Small Business Administration over COVID loan fraud in hearing
: WSYX-TV
Key Committee Maps Out Priorities Through 2024
: FEDweek
Here’s How the Prisons Agency Fared During the Pandemic
: Government Executive
Federal government struggles to understand scope of pandemic fraud three years into COVID-19
: Washington Examiner
Eastern Idaho farmers pay $500,000 to resolve allegations of defrauding Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
: KIDK-TV
FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget Cuts Wasteful Spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Other Special Interests, Cracks Down on Systemic Fraud, and Makes Programs More Cost Effective
: The White House
Biden Asking for $1.6 Billion and More Time to Prosecute Pandemic Fraud, Recover Funds
: The Epoch Times
Biden announces $1.6B plan to fight pandemic aid fraud, go after criminals
: Breitbart News Network
FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Sweeping Pandemic Anti-Fraud Proposal: Going After Systemic Fraud, Taking on Identity Theft, Helping Victims
: The White House
'You cannot hide': Biden administration to go after scammers who stole billions in COVID relief
: Yahoo! News
President Biden Issues a Sweeping Anti-COVID Fraud Proposal
: Government Executive

February

Republicans introduce legislation to recover stolen unemployment benefits
: Washington Examiner
Why scammers who stole billions in unemployment benefits may get away with fraud
: Los Angeles Times
From the Business Desk: Reckoning is needed for pandemic relief
: Portland Press Herald
They bought mansions, a Rolls Royce, and chartered a jet with COVID relief loans, prosecutors allege
: The Boston Globe
Watchdog Sounds Alarm On $5.4 Billion Of Potentially Fraudulent Pandemic Loans
: Forbes

January

Watchdog says federal government gave $5.4 billion in Covid aid to small businesses with ‘questionable’ Social Security numbers
: CNN
The New House Accountability Committee Chairman: ‘We’re Two Years Behind in Oversight’
: Government Executive
Watchdog identifies $5 billion in potential COVID aid fraud
: Axios
$5.4 billion in covid aid may have gone to firms using suspect Social Security numbers
: The Washington Post
U.S. watchdog identifies $5.4 billion in potentially fraudulent COVID-19 loans
: Reuters
Remote Work: Transitioning from a Social Distancing Measure to a Human Capital Strategy
: Government Executive
Thousands of data have been processed. Now prosecutors plan to reveal more pandemic fraud
: Itempnews

2022

December

Medicare Keeps Spending More on COVID-19 Testing. Fraud and Overspending Are Partly Why.
: ProPublica
U.S. watchdogs guarding $5 trillion in covid aid say they need more money
: The Washington Post
The Year in Review: The Federal Government’s Response to the Pandemic
: Government Executive
Primary care was top telehealth use for federal health programs in first year of COVID-19 pandemic
: Medical Economics
Fintechs are under scrutiny over fraudulent PPP loans and small businesses could suffer. Here are the biggest takeaways from the federal investigation.
: Business Insider
More Than 80 Cities, Counties Using Federal Pandemic Aid to Fund Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs
: The Epoch Times
Should the Deadline to Spend ARPA Dollars be Extended?
: Route Fifty
‘Little is Known’ about Quality of Telehealth Care in FEHB, Says Report
: FEDweek
Probes of Possible Pandemic Relief Fraud Include Federal Employees
: FEDweek
Hackers linked to Chinese government stole millions in Covid benefits, Secret Service says
: NBC News
Will pandemic prep and Medicare cuts fit the bill?
: POLITICO

November

While good chunk of American Rescue Plan money is spent, municipalities have a lot more
: WJAC-TV
How to find data on millions and millions of pandemic federal funding awards
: Federal News Network

October

Coronavirus Roundup: HHS Awards $21 Million to Get Ready for New and Emerging Pathogens
: Government Executive
Federal prosecutor announces task force to target COVID-19 fraud in Idaho
: The Idaho Capital Sun
First PPP Loan False Claims Act Settlement: What it Could Mean for Future Cases
: The National Law Review
Pandemic-related fraud totaled billions. California is trying to get some of it back
: NPR
Covid Cons
: American Greed Podcast
The scope of pandemic relief fraud keeps on ballooning
: Federal News Network
‘Purported' Marblehead Monk, Lawyer Charged in $3.6 Million COVID Fraud Scheme: Prosecutors
: NBC News Boston
Data gaps make relief payments to WA officials hard to trace
: Crosscut
The Best Way to Protect Infrastructure Spending from Waste and Fraud Is to Set Up an Oversight Body—Right Now
: Government Executive

September

How to ensure that Biden’s great American road trip leads to a better future
: The Hill - Floor Action
OIG Finds Inconsistent Pandemic Response Data Collection at FEMA
: Homeland Security Today
Opinion Covid-19 relief was plagued by fraud. Here is the right response.
: The Washington Post
Feds charge 1,000 defendants in pandemic unemployment fraud investigation
: WCIV-TV
Pandemic broke down some, but not all barriers for IGs
: Federal News Network
Coronavirus Roundup: A CDC Team Is Honored for Its Vaccine Distribution Work
: Government Executive
U.S. watchdog estimates $45.6 billion in pandemic unemployment fraud
: The Washington Post
Sen. Durbin says his son was a victim of PPP fraud, calls for more oversight of federal COVID-19 funds
: Fox News
The Government's Long Game for Investigating COVID-era Relief Fraud
: The National Law Review
Coronavirus Roundup: New COVID Datasets and Strike Teams Are Targeting Fraud
: Government Executive
Justice Department announces COVID fraud strike force teams
: Fox Business Network
Ex-Thibodaux resident accused of filing fake papers seeking over $1 million in PPP loans
: The Daily Comet
Area counties total $78M in PPP loans
: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

August

Yes, the average forgiven PPP loan is far more than $20,000 student loan relief
: WMAZ-TV
Massive scale of pandemic fraud is a warning to prepare now, before the next crisis
: Chicago Sun-Times
'We're going to find you': Biden extends time government has to recover misused PPP funds
: WKRC-TV
The Billion Dollar Jobs Push Using ARPA Funds
: Route Fifty
Maine’s COVID fraud cases stand out for their small size
: Bangor Daily News
Biden Has Signed Bipartisan Legislation to Better Combat Fraud in COVID Relief Programs Into Law
: Government Executive

July

Recent PPP fraud cases may be prelude to more
: Keene Sentinel
The SBA Watchdog Says Data, Collaboration and Proper Controls Are Vital for COVID Oversight
: Government Executive
The Federal Committee Watching Over Pandemic Spending
: Route Fifty
Federal funds are building long-term data capacity in US cities
: Cities Today

June

How Cities and States are Gathering Data as They Spend Federal Aid
: Route Fifty
Pandemic Response Watchdogs Urge Agencies to Focus on ID Theft
: Government Executive
Rep. Clyburn Says US failed to stop fraud in COVID-19 loan program
: WTXL-TV
Pandemic Spending Oversight Body Cites More Lessons Learned
: FEDweek
Organized crime gangs looted COVID-relief programs of billions, feds say
: Newsday
Investigation into government Covid relief distribution and potential mismanagement
: NBC News
COVID Oversight Officials Request More Time and Money to Ferret Out Fraud
: Government Executive
Real estate agents got $3.9 billion in Covid relief PPP loans. The housing market boomed, but few repaid the loans.
: NBC News

May

Inspectors Ask For Authority To Go After More Covid Fraud
: Associated Press
‘A magnet for rip-off artists’: Fraud siphoned billions from pandemic unemployment benefits
: The Washington Post
COVID-19 relief fraud led to billions in taxpayer-funded Paycheck Protection Program loans lost
: Fox Business Network
PPP 2 years later: Analyzing the legacy and impact of the $800B government relief program
: Banking Dive

April

Biden, federal watchdogs discuss infrastructure oversight
: Spectrum News | Madison
White House Issues Infrastructure Spending Implementation Guidance
: International Business Times
The White House Wants to Ensure Good Stewardship of Infrastructure Funds
: Government Executive
FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Prioritizes Effectiveness, Accountability, and Transparency in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation
: The White House
Crozer Health received $72M in relief funds during the pandemic
: Delaware County Daily Times
DOJ: Alleged COVID fraudsters charged after raking in nearly $150 million through elaborate schemes
: ABC News
Federal Pandemic Money Has Spurred Fraud. Tax Refunds Are Getting Filched.
: MarketWatch
Two Years of COVID-19 Oversight: A Look Back
: Government Executive
The Inspectors General COVID Committee Has an ‘Enormous Responsibility'
: Government Executive
Money from the COVID Paycheck Protection Program was allegedly largely misspent
: NPR
The $1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending needs oversight
: The Hill
The Fleecing of America: Looting the Paycheck Protection Program
: WHEC

March

Rep. Connolly Prepping Bill to Cut Feds’ Soaring Improper Payments
: MeriTalk News
'Biggest fraud in a generation': The looting of the Covid relief plan known as PPP
: NBC News
Billions in pandemic relief funds lost to fraud
: NBC News
Fraudsters swiped billions by targeting COVID-19 relief money
: WBAL-AM
How different priorities in Northland counties affected CARES Act spending
: Kansas City Beacon
There's no final number yet for pandemic fraud, oversight leaders tell Congress
: FCW
Coronavirus Roundup: A New COVID-19 Response Coordinator, New Reentry Guidance for Defense Civilians
: Government Executive
Pandemic relief oversight sheds new light on persistent gaps in federal spending data
: Federal News Network
Feds have recovered less than 1% of $163 billion in bogus unemployment benefits
: The Washington Times
Feds have recovered less than 1% of $163 billion in bogus unemployment benefits
: Washington Times
Pandemic relief oversight sheds new light on persistent gaps in federal spending data | Federal News Network
: Federal News Network
Federal Officials Discuss How to Make COVID Oversight More Effective
: Government Executive
Federal Officials Discuss Making COVID and Future Oversight More Effective
: Government Executive
One year on, Biden's COVID relief bill is 90% dispensed (spectrumnews1.com)
: Spectrum News,
DOJ finds more than $8 billion in COVID aid fraud
: The Hill
Are you covering the American Rescue Plan Act? ‘It’s a huge deal.
: Poynter
Checking receipts: How the richest county in Kansas spent $124.3 million in CARES Act funds
: Kansas City Beacon
As lab owners buy luxury cars, Biden tightens oversight of $5 trillion in COVID 19 relief
: Yahoo! News
Fact Sheet: President Biden to Announce New Steps to Combat Criminal Fraud and Identity Theft in Pandemic Relief Programs
: The White House
Biden Uses the State of the Union to Call Feds Back to Their Offices and for Increased Government Oversight
: Government Executive

February

Pandemic fraud is running rampant
: WCNC
An unusual number of U.S. households are behind on utility bills
: Poynter
Immense fraud creates immense task for Washington as it tries to tighten scrutiny of $6 trillion in emergency coronavirus spending
: Washington Post
Tracking COVID relief spending in Wyandotte County: How $37.3 million was spent
: Kansas City Beacon

January

Tens of millions of dollars from state unemployment fraud likely won’t be recovered
: Seattle Times
No easy fix for ID verification of government benefits
: FCW
Coronavirus Roundup: CDC Data Show Booster Effectiveness Against Omicron; the Pandemic’s Impact on Biden’s Regulatory Agenda
: Government Executive
With an increase in federal payouts comes an increase in improper payments
: Federal News Network
Here's how Kansas City spent $32 million CARES Act money
: Kansas City Beacon
White House Renews Efforts to Improve Integrity of Federal Payments
: Government Executive

2021

December

Oversight report explains how fraudsters obtained billions in COVID unemployment money | KVAL
: KVAL
EBB Providing Aid to Low-Income Households, Outreach Challenges Still Exist
: MeriTalk
Federal Watchdog Scopes States' Woes With UI Systems in Pandemic
: MeriTalk
Baltimore woman used fake documents to get $1.6 million in COVID relief funds, fed say
: Baltimore Sun
The U.S. has spent most of its Covid relief funding, but there are still billions left to dole out
: CNBC
OMB tells agencies to cooperate with IGs overseeing COVID-19 spending
: Federal News Network
Getting a Return on Swelling Savings
: Lane Report
White House Releases 'Unprecedented’ Guidance to Agencies on Cooperating With Watchdogs
: Government Executive

November

Coronavirus Roundup: The Federal Response to the Omicron Variant
: Government Executive

October

Federal watchdog calls out transparency issues in pandemic spending
: FCW
Americans Love Meat So Much That Butchers, Processing Plants And Farms Received $84 Million In Pandemic Aid
: Forbes
The Daily Scoop Podcast
: FedScoop
Governments Face Soaring Costs Burying Poor and Unclaimed Dead
: Route Fifty

September

Why some small towns are rejecting federal COVID relief funds
: Pew Stateline
State and local governments still have $10B from COVID fund
: Government Technology
Hazards of self-certification and other lessons learned from federal government’s pandemic response
: Federal News Network
Billions paid in fraudulent virus aid, pandemic watchdog finds
: Bloomberg News
Government watchdog finds pandemic relief fraud potentially worth billions
: ABC News

August

Who’s minding the store on COVID-19 relief spending?
: Press Herald
Auditors warn of risks to agencies in stepped-up spending due to pandemic
: FEDWeek

July

This week in federal funding: Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
: Route Fifty

June

Can Congress take back California’s COVID relief? Senators want to try in infrastructure deal
: Sacramento Bee

May

Oversight leader says volume of datasets ‘biggest challenge’ in COVID-19 fraud prevention
: FedScoop
Page last modified: 11/06/2023
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