Reports

Department of Homeland Security OIG

FEMA Did Not Implement Controls to Prevent More than $3.7 Billion in Improper Payments from the Lost Wages Assistance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not implement controls that may have prevented the 21 state workforce agencies (SWA) in our review from distributing more than $3.7 billion in improper payments through its Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/22/2022

1 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator develop and implement a standard risk assessment process before initiating new Federal grant programs. This risk assessment should focus on identifying and evaluating program risks that may affect FEMA’s ability to prevent waste,
fraud, and abuse in its programs and mitigating those external risks to the extent practical.

2 - Closed

We recommend the FEMA Administrator, when mandated to rely on eligibility determinations of non-FEMA programs, develop a process to assess the program controls and identify risk to the extent practical.

3 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator update the State Administrative Plan template to incorporate a requirement for grantees to include a description of the steps to prevent improper payments.

4 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator develop and implement a process to monitor whether grantees implement and use the controls attested in FEMA-approved State Administrative Plans.

5 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator work with state workforce agencies to evaluate the Lost Wages Assistance program payments
and verify that all recipients who received payment have a self-certification on file, as required; to determine whether the claimant meets eligibility requirements if no self-certification is on file; and, if not, to recover the payment.

6 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator conduct an after-action study of the Lost Wages Assistance program and update FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program based on the lessons learned from the study.

7 - Closed

We recommend the FEMA Administrator de-obligate and recover any monies determined to have been obtained fraudulently or other improper payments through Lost Wages Assistance from the state workforce agencies.

Department of Homeland Security OIG

FEMA Needs to Improve Its Oversight of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must improve its oversight of the National Board’s (Board) administration of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to ensure individuals receive aid in a timely manner and that program funding is used in accordance with Federal requirements.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Transportation OIG

FAA Quickly Awarded CARES Act Funds but Can Enhance Its Oversight Approach To Promote Effective Stewardship

What We Looked At The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with $10 billion to help airports deal with the public health emergency caused by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). FAA awarded $9.1 billion in grants to airports nationwide, using its existing Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to distribute the funds. Our objective for this self-initiated audit was to assess whether FAA’s policies and procedures for awarding and overseeing CARES Act grants are sufficient to protect taxpayer interests. What We Found Leveraging the AIP...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Folkston ICE Processing Center and Folkston Annex

The objective was to conduct an unannounced inspection of Folkston Processing Center and Folkston Annex to monitor compliance with select ICE detention standards.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Inspection / Evaluation | 7/05/2022

1 - Closed

Ensure the Folkston facility conditions we identified as deficient are corrected and in compliance with 2011 PBNDS requirements.

10 - Closed

Provide ICE visitation schedules, including the time, duration, and location for housing unit visits, to ensure Folkston detainees are aware of their regular access to assigned ICE ERO deportation officers.

11 - Closed

Ensure ICE provides copies of ICE request forms and secure drop boxes in all Folkston housing units.

12 - Open

Ensure Folkston maintains staffing levels outlined in the ICE contract.

13 - Closed

Ensure Folkston properly secures and stores detainee personal property.

2 - Closed

Establish coordination of medical care for detainees moved between Folkston IPC and Folkston Annex and ensure timely access to specialty care.

3 - Closed

Address medical staffing issues at Folkston IPC to ensure adequate mental health care for detainees.

4 - Closed

Require Folkston staff to complete daily medical monitoring of detainees in administrative segregation.

5 - Closed

Provide detainees in segregation at Folkston IPC access to recreation, legal calls, laundry services for bedding and clothing, mail, legal materials, law library, and commissary.

6 - Closed

Ensure Folkston segregation practices related to handcuffing comply with 2011 PBNDS requirements.

7 - Closed

Establish a grievance and facility request tracking system to ensure timely and complete responses to all detainee requests filed at Folkston.

8 - Closed

Ensure Folkston meets ICE’s COVID-19 requirements for wearing masks and social distancing.

9 - Closed

Establish a requests tracking system to ensure timely and complete responses to all detainee requests filed at Folkston.

Department of Homeland Security OIG

ICE Did Not Follow Policies, Guidance, or Recommendations to Ensure Migrants Were Tested for COVID-19 before Transport on Domestic Commercial Flights

The objective was to determine the extent to which the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mitigates safety risks by testing migrants for COVID-19 before transport on domestic commercial flights and whether a process is in place for escorting noncitizen unaccompanied children (UCs) during transport.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 5/23/2022

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Lessons Learned from DHS' Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative

Our objective was to evaluate how DHS determined employee status for placement into vaccine distribution priority groups; determine how DHS, in conjunction with VHA, planned to triage and distribute available vaccine inventory and vaccinate frontline, mission-critical DHS staff; and evaluate how DHS executed its plan.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Management Alert - FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Operating Procedures Are Inconsistent with Previous Interpretation of Long-Standing Regulations for Eligible Funeral Expenses

We are issuing this management alert to advise the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that its Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Funeral Assistance Program operating procedures contradict FEMA’s previous interpretation of long-standing regulations for ineligible funeral expenses established in FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG). This interpretation of regulations for ineligible funeral expenses remains unchanged in FEMA Policy 104-21-0001 (COVID-19-specific policy).

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Defense OIG

Evaluation of Department of Defense Military Medical Treatment Facility Challenges During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Fiscal Year 2021

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Inspection / Evaluation | 4/05/2022

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0001.A1a - Open

Rec. A.1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in conjunction with the Secretaries of the Military Departments, establish a working group to address the staffing challenges identified by Military Medical Treatment Facilities during this evaluation. The working group should establish milestones to streamline the hiring process to allow Military Medical Treatment Facilities to more quickly fill civilian staffing positions.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0001.A1b - Open

Rec. A.1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in conjunction with the Secretaries of the Military Departments, establish a working group to address the staffing challenges identified by Military Medical Treatment Facilities during this evaluation. The working group should establish milestones to determine if salaries for Military Medical Treatment Facility civilian nurses are commensurate with each facility's local market and if military treatment facilities are able to hire nurses at those salaries. For locations where military treatment facility salaries are not commensurate with the local market, take appropriate actions that will reduce the disparity in those markets.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0001.A1c - Open

Rec. A.1.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in conjunction with the Secretaries of the Military Departments, establish a working group to address the staffing challenges identified by Military Medical Treatment Facilities during this evaluation. The working group should establish milestones to establish a central authority with the knowledge of the Services' requests for individual and large group deployments of medical staff coming out of Military Medical Treatment Facilities and the associated risks to health care delivery.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0001.A1d - Open

Rec. A.1.d: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in conjunction with the Secretaries of the Military Departments, establish a working group to address the staffing challenges identified by Military Medical Treatment Facilities during this evaluation. The working group should establish milestones to assess the ability of Military Medical Treatment Facilities to rapidly receive augmentation of medical staff from the Reserve Components.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0002.A2a - Open

Rec. A.2.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Military Departments establish the manpower requirements for the coronavirus disease-2019 mission within the Military Medical Treatment Facilities for the staff required to support testing, vaccinations, contact tracing, and acute respiratory clinics.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0001-0002.A2b - Open

Rec. A.2.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Military Departments identify the medical personnel requirements within the Military Medical Treatment Facilities, including clinicians, nurses, and support staff, needed for future long-term pandemic response and biological incidents.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0002-0001.B - Open

Rec. B: The DoD OIG recommended that the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) develop DoD policy for the maximum consecutive hours to be worked, maximum shifts per week, and coverage of duties when absent, for Military Health System staff (at minimum, active duty military and civilian physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and lab technicians) working in Military Medical Treatment Facilities to reduce the physical impacts leading to fatigue and burnout, and develop the appropriate waivers of this policy for Military Health System staff.

D-2022-2081-DEV0PB-0003-0001.C - Open

Rec. C: The DoD OIG recommended that the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) direct a new or existing working group to develop a plan to implement the recommendations in the Military Health System COVID-19 After Action Report and to develop and monitor milestones for each recommendation.

Department of Defense OIG

Audit of Entitlements for Activated Army National Guard and Air National Guard Members Supporting the Coronavirus Disease–2019 Mission

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 3/30/2022

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0001.a - Closed

Rec. 1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, DoD, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, update the DoD Financial Management Regulation, volume 7A, "Military Pay Policy - Active Duty and Reserve Pay," chapter 27, "Family Separation Allowance" to clearly state that the permanent duty station of a Reserve Component member on temporary duty status is the member's primary residence for the purpose of determining Family Separation Allowance entitlement.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0001.b - Closed

Rec. 1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, DoD, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, update the DoD Financial Management Regulation, volume 7A, "Military Pay Policy - Active Duty and Reserve Pay," chapter 27, "Family Separation Allowance" to clarify that Family Separation Allowance entitlement determination is based on the commuting distance between the member's primary residence and their temporary duty location.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0002.a - Open

Rec. 2.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement policies and procedures to require the Army National Guard and Air National Guard to complete a review of proof of residency documentation when the member's primary residency is established or changed for the Basic Allowance for Housing entitlement to ensure consistency throughout all Army National Guard and Air National Guard units and organizations within every state, territory, and the District. The policies and procedures should also include requirements that: * document a member's primary residence address; * require members to provide proof of their primary residence address; * certify the primary address of members and review supporting documentation; and * provide oversight to ensure primary residence address information is complete and accurate.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0002.b - Open

Rec. 2.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement policies and procedures to outline the process and frequency of recertification for Basic Allowance for Housing entitlement that Army National Guard and Air National Guard officials will use to verify and fully document the dependency status of members to provide clarification to the DoD Financial Management Regulation, volume 7A, chapter 26. These procedures should include: * how recertifications will be completed; * which members will complete a recertification; and * how Army National Guard and Air National Guard officials will provide oversight to ensure that information is complete and accurate.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0002.c - Open

Rec. 2.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement policies and procedures to require Army National Guard and Air National Guard officials to review and document the status of a military member married to another military member regardless of which Military Service, Reserve or Active Component, or Army National Guard or Air National Guard unit the member's spouse belongs to, and identify which member will claim any applicable dependents.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0002.d - Open

Rec. 2.d: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement policies and procedures to specify the methods for confirming eligibility and paying Family Separation Allowance for Army National Guard and Air National Guard members, in accordance with the DoD Financial Management Regulation, volume 7A, chapter 27, and include the: * timeliness of payments; * determination of Family Separation Allowance eligibility for back to back orders; * members assigned to their normal duty locations; and * requirement to track members to know when they return to their primary residence.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0002.e - Open

Rec. 2.e: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement policies and procedures to establish formal dissemination and communication procedures for National Guard Bureau policies related to entitlements provided to the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, including the policies in the preceding recommendations. The procedures should require: * creation of a central location where policies and procedures will be kept for easy access by all states, territories, and the District; and * confirmation of receipt from all of the states, territories, and the District when procedures are communicated or obtained.

D-2022-0074-D000RG-0001-0003 - Open

Rec. 3: The DoD OIG recommended that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Director of the Army National Guard and the Director of the Air National Guard, develop and implement additional internal control procedures for the review of transactions manually submitted by the Army National Guard and Air National Guard to the payment system prior to payment to ensure the completeness and accuracy of transactions.

Environmental Protection Agency OIG

EPA Should Consistently Track Coronavirus Pandemic-Related Grant Flexibilities and Implement Plan for Electronic Grant File Storage

The EPA Office of Grants and Debarment does not know the full extent to which program offices and regions have implemented grant flexibilities and exceptions permitted by the Office of Management and Budget due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Office of Grants and Debarment tracked grants that received flexibilities through its issued class waivers and regulatory exceptions but did not track grants that received flexibilities and exceptions approved by program offices and regions. The lack of agencywide tracking of grant flexibilities and exceptions hindered the Agency’s ability to assess how...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 2/22/2022

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State (State and Local Reports)

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Management Challenges

Any Recommendations

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Reports

FEMA Did Not Implement Controls to Prevent More than $3.7 Billion in Improper Payments from the Lost Wages Assistance Program

FEMA Needs to Improve Its Oversight of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program

FAA Quickly Awarded CARES Act Funds but Can Enhance Its Oversight Approach To Promote Effective Stewardship

Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Folkston ICE Processing Center and Folkston Annex

ICE Did Not Follow Policies, Guidance, or Recommendations to Ensure Migrants Were Tested for COVID-19 before Transport on Domestic Commercial Flights

Lessons Learned from DHS' Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative

Management Alert - FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Operating Procedures Are Inconsistent with Previous Interpretation of Long-Standing Regulations for Eligible Funeral Expenses

Evaluation of Department of Defense Military Medical Treatment Facility Challenges During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Fiscal Year 2021

Audit of Entitlements for Activated Army National Guard and Air National Guard Members Supporting the Coronavirus Disease–2019 Mission

EPA Should Consistently Track Coronavirus Pandemic-Related Grant Flexibilities and Implement Plan for Electronic Grant File Storage

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