Reports
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Small Business Administration OIG
SBA’s Handling of Returned COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Funds and De-obligations of Approved Loans
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this management advisory to present the results of our review of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) processing of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds that were returned to the agency by borrowers, banks, or other sources.We found significant delays in the decision process related to returned COVID-19 EIDL funds. The majority of these COVID-19 EIDLs were eventually made available to small business owners, including the original borrowers. However, SBA canceled $3.1 billion of these loans...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Summary Report: Evaluation of Breast Cancer Surveillance in Veterans Health Administration Facilities
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report evaluates notification and surveillance for patients with mammogram results requiring action during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspections involved interviews with key staff and evaluations of clinical processes. The OIG reviewed providers’ notification of mammogram results requiring action to patients within VHA’s defined time frame and patients’ completion of the recommended actions.The OIG issued no recommendations for improvement.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of Personnel Shortages in Federal Health Care Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic put an unprecedented strain on the nation’s federal healthcare systems. The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Health Care Subgroup surveyed more than 300 facilities across four federal healthcare programs to determine if the facilities had sufficient medical staff during the pandemic. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed staffing at Veterans Health Administration facilities, the Department of Justice OIG reviewed Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, the Department of Defense OIG reviewed medical treatment facilities, and the Health and Human...
Small Business Administration OIG
COVID-19 Pandemic EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud Landscape
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to provide a comprehensive estimate of the potential fraud in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) pandemic assistance loan programs. Over the course of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, SBA disbursed approximately $1.2 trillion of COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.In the rush to swiftly disburse COVID-19 EIDL and PPP funds, SBA calibrated its internal controls. The agency weakened or removed the controls...
Small Business Administration OIG
Serious Concerns Regarding the Return of Paycheck Protection Program Funds
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this management advisory to bring to your attention concerns regarding the return of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. This issue requires immediate attention and action by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure it has processes and procedures in place to adequately accept, process, and account for PPP funds returned by borrowers, lenders, and financial institutions. Expedited management action should mitigate the risk of financial loss to taxpayers.Establishing clear and detailed guidance for borrowers, lenders, and...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Missed Opportunities to Distribute Excess Ventilators during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in demand for ventilators and provoked concerns about potential supply shortages across VA medical facilities. During the course of a previous broader review, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) uncovered a potential issue with the number of ventilators procured and stored at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and sought to determine whether they had been properly requested, acquired, received, and accounted for.The OIG found the facility acquired more ventilators from March 1, 2020, through November 30, 2021, than...
Small Business Administration OIG
White Paper: 7(a) Loan Program During SBA’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
We prepared this white paper to report on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) loan program performance during SBA’s response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and address potential risks SBA should consider in managing the program.We identified factors that could impact the 7(a) loan program and should be considered in SBA’s program risk strategy. Specifically, in FY 2021, the total amount of loans increased to $31.4 billion from $19.4 billion in FY 2020 (62 percent increase) and $20.6 billion in FY 2019 (53 percent increase), as did the average loan amount...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Eastern Airlines, LLC
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Eastern Airlines, LLC
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Timco Engine Center, Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Timco Engine Center, Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Timco Engine Center, Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Timco Engine Center, Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Ovation Travel Group, Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Ovation Travel Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau
Decisions About the Use of Supplemental Federal Funds (Department of Administration)
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a limited-scope review of how the Department of Administration (DOA) used supplemental federal funds provided in response to the public health emergency. DOA paid $2.2 billion to other state agencies and spent $1.5 billion on its own programs. As of June 30, 2022, $1.8 billion in discretionary funds were remaining. In December 2022, DOA indicated it had plans for using most of these funds.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Insights on Telehealth Use and Program Integrity Risks Across Selected Health Care Programs During the Pandemic
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) Health Care Subgroup developed this report to share insights about the expansion—and the emerging risks—of telehealth in selected programs across six federal agencies during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The selected programs, which provided telehealth services to about 37 million people in 2020 (up from just three million in 2019), included the Veterans Health Administration, Medicare, TRICARE, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and Department of Justice prisoner healthcare...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
VHA Progressed in the Follow-Up of Canceled Appointments during the Pandemic but Could Use Additional Oversight Metrics
The OIG reviewed the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) progress in monitoring their follow-up of canceled appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic.In 2020, the OIG reported that VHA had not followed up on about 32 percent of canceled appointments. VHA then implemented the Cancelled Appointments and Consult Management Initiative and created a cancellation report to track follow-up conducted for appointments originally scheduled to occur after July 21, 2020. The report allowed tracking by types of care, by month, and cumulatively, but VHA did not use all the reporting features. VHA...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Caribbean Sun Airlines, Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Caribbean Sun Airlines, Inc.
Small Business Administration OIG
SBA's Guaranty Purchases for Paycheck Protection Program Loans
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this management advisory to express concerns regarding the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) decision to end collections on purchased Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans with an outstanding balance of $100,000 or less.In anticipation of a significant number of delinquent PPP loans that lenders will submit for guaranty purchase, we began reviewing SBA’s process for approving PPP guaranty purchases. During our review, we identified concerns with SBA’s decision to end collections on these loans and found that expedited management...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – SpinLaunch Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – SpinLaunch Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Republic Airways, Inc.
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Republic Airways, Inc.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Summary Report: Evaluation of Medication Management in Veterans Health Administration Facilities, Fiscal Year 2021
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report highlights the results of a focused evaluation of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities’ medication management related to remdesivir use. The report describes medication management-related findings from healthcare inspections performed at 34 VHA medical facilities during fiscal year 2021. Each inspection involved interviews with key staff and reviews of clinical and administrative processes.The OIG found that VHA met many elements of expected performance, including the availability of...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Mesa Airlines, Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Map Large, Inc.
Florida, Broward County Office of the Inspector General
Review of Broward County’s Expenditure of CARES Act Funds
The OIG’s review found that the county spent its $340,744,702.30 of CRF proceeds on Broward Sheriff’s Office public safety payroll expenditures in accordance with the law and guidance from Treasury. Although we found that the county was in compliance, we did identify an inadvertent misspending of $72,632.42 that the county subsequently corrected. Additionally, we discovered that CRF proceeds may have been used for personnel benefits that Department of Treasury may not consider eligible.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – United Airlines
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.
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.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
The Veterans Health Administration Needs to Do More to Promote Emotional Well-Being Supports Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Emergency Management issued the initial COVID-19 Response Plan on March 23, 2020, and then an updated version on August 7, 2020. The National Center for Organization Development created a COVID-19 rapid response consultation process for VHA leaders in a supervisory role. The Organizational Health Council developed a team that coordinated with multiple VHA program offices to create a COVID-19 Employee Support Toolkit and other resources. Additionally, several program offices independently created and disseminated employee well-being resources...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Purchases of Smartphones and Tablets for Veterans’ Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated efforts by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to expand veteran access to telehealth. Accordingly, VHA’s Connected Care Office created a new digital divide consult to issue iPhones to veterans experiencing homelessness who were enrolled in the Department of Housing and Urban Development VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. VHA was already loaning iPads to other veterans who lacked telehealth capable devices through the digital divide consult process. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated this review to evaluate whether purchases of...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – JetBlue Airways Corporation
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of Facilities’ COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response in Veterans Integrated Service Networks 2, 5, and 6
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) 2, 5, and 6 facilities’ COVID-19 pandemic readiness and response. This evaluation focused on emergency preparedness; supplies, equipment, and infrastructure; staffing; access to care; community living center patient care and operations; facility staff feedback; and VA and VISNs 2, 5, and 6 vaccination efforts.The OIG has aggregated findings on COVID-19 preparedness and responsiveness from routine inspections to ensure...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Alaska Airlines, Inc.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – American Airlines, Inc.
New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller
Review of COVID-19 Cares Act Marine Fisheries Assistance Grant Program
We conducted a limited review of the New Jersey COVID-19 CARES Act Marine Fisheries Assistance Grant Program administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). We evaluated whether DEP took appropriate steps to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and improper payments in its administration of the program; whether program recipients disclosed other sources of COVID-19 assistance received; whether program recipients had been made “more than whole” by their receipt of assistance from the Fishery Program; and whether program recipients had accurately documented their...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Independent Review of 4003(b) Loan Recipient’s Validation Memo – Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
VA’s Compliance with the VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021
In November 2021, Congress passed the VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021 to oversee VA’s spending of emergency relief funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The law requires VA to report to Congress how it will spend the funding and provide biweekly updates thereafter.The law also requires the VA OIG to report within 120 days on whether VA is spending the funds according to its plan and must address waste, fraud, and abuse. This inaugural report focuses on whether the spend plans VA provided to Congress on December 22, 2021, satisfy the requirements of the Transparency Act.VA’s spend plans...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Systems and Tools Implemented to Track COVID-19 Vaccine Data
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) examined whether the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) implemented data collection and reporting systems to report on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to VA medical facilities and doses administered to VA employees and veterans enrolled in VA’s healthcare system (approximately 9.5 million individuals). Although essential for national reporting, tracking VA vaccine data is difficult because VA does not have a centralized national pharmacy inventory management system to track vaccine supply at facilities.Although VHA staff swiftly developed data...
Virginia, City of Chesapeake Audit Services Department
CARES Act: Special Audit March 27,2020 through September 30, 2020
Our review was conducted for the purpose of determining whether the City was providing oversight and compliance in an economical, efficient, and effective manner, whether CARES Act goals and objectives were being achieved, and whether the City was complying with applicable Federal, State, City and Department Guidelines.
Maryland State Legislative Auditor
Review of Certain Emergency Procurements Related to the State of Maryland’s COVID-19 Response
This review was initiated by the Office of Legislative Audits, and it represents an expansion of an earlier limited review that was undertaken based on a joint request from the chairs of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and the House Health and Government Operations Committees for a review of two COVID-related emergency procurements. This current report includes the results of our review of the emergency procurement and accountability of medical supplies from Blue Flame Medical. In addition, during the course of our review, we identified 848 emergency procurements...
Small Business Administration OIG
COVID-19 EIDL Program Recipients on the Department of Treasury's Do Not Pay List
We produced this Management Advisory to notify Small Business Administration (SBA) officials of serious concerns about potential improper payments in SBA’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.Our review of Treasury’s analysis of processed COVID-19 EIDL and emergency EIDL grants from March to November 2020 revealed that SBA’s lack of adequate pre-award controls during this period of review led to 75,180 COVID-19 EIDLs totaling over $3.1 billion and 117,135 emergency EIDL grants totaling over $550 million being disbursed to potentially ineligible...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of Facilities' COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response in Veterans Integrated Service Networks 1 and 8
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 1 and 8 facilities’ COVID-19 pandemic readiness and response. This evaluation focused on emergency preparedness; supplies, equipment, and infrastructure; staffing; access to care; community living center patient care and operations; facility staff feedback; and VA and VISN 1 and 8 vaccination efforts.The OIG has aggregated findings on COVID-19 preparedness and responsiveness from routine inspections to ensure prompt...
Maryland, Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General
COVID-19 Rental Assistance Programs
At the time we initiated this review, the Montgomery County Council had appropriated almost $24 million through three separate resolutions to provide rental assistance to residents negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The appropriations funded the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, administered by the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and the COVID-19 Rental Relief Program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. We conducted this review to determine (1) if vulnerabilities exist in either program that create opportunities for fraud or abuse...
Small Business Administration OIG
The Small Business Administration’s Implementation of Recommended Controls and the Economic Aid Act
SBA implemented or initiated action on all the OIG recommendations to strengthen internal controls related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Economic Aid Act continued assistance under the PPP for small businesses financially affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We found SBA implemented the PPP in accordance with the Economic Aid Act with two exceptions. SBA did not 1) require an assessment of affiliation for faith-based organizations which contradicts its internal control procedures and 2) issue guidance regarding farm credit system institutions to ensure requirements...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of Facilities' COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response in Veterans Integrated Service Network 19
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19 facilities’ COVID-19 pandemic readiness and response. This evaluation focused on emergency preparedness; supplies, equipment, and infrastructure; staffing; access to care; community living center patient care and operations; facility staff feedback; and VA and VISN 19 vaccination efforts.The OIG has aggregated findings on COVID-19 preparedness and responsiveness from routine inspections to ensure prompt dissemination of...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor Contract Emergency Supply Strategies Available Before the COVID-19 Pandemic
VA medical facilities’ demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) ensured the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor-Next Generation (MSPV-NG) program and its prime vendors met contract requirements by offering medical facilities a no-cost option to develop advance-order supply lists tailored to catastrophic events and contingency plans. The OIG also assessed whether facilities took advantage of those options and strategies and relied on the contracts...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of VHA’s Financial Oversight of COVID-19 Supplemental Funds
In response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) tracking and reporting of COVID-19 supplemental funding from legislation for pandemic relief.VA met monthly reporting requirements to OMB and Congress on supplemental fund obligations and expenditures. VA also submitted required weekly obligations and expenditures from supplemental funding to OMB by program activity. Of approximately $17.3 billion in medical care supplemental funds, VA reported it had obligated about $7.11...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Use and Oversight of the Emergency Caches Were Limited during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The OIG assessed how effectively VA managed its emergency caches during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. These caches contain a standard supply of drugs and medical supplies, including some personal protective equipment, for use during a public health emergency.The review team found that use and oversight of the emergency caches were limited. Only nine of 144 medical facilities activated their emergency caches during the review period (February through June 2020). Among the reasons they were not used included medical facility directors reporting supplies were not needed...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Implementation Review: Loan Agreements Need to Provide for Appropriate Access to the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, July 28, 2020
Florida, Broward County Office of the County Auditor
Review of Expenditures Under the CARES Act Program
The objective of our review was to determine whether the County’s reported use of CARES Act funding was in accordance with United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) requirements and supported by sufficient and allowable expenditures. We conclude the County’s reported use of CARES Act funding was in accordance with Treasury requirements and supported by sufficient and allowable expenditures.
Social Security Administration OIG
The Social Security Administration's Telephone Services During June 2020
We issued this to review the Social Security Administration’s telephone services during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically during June 2020.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of Community-Based Outpatient Clinics Closed Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) closures that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate the impact on patient care. The OIG virtually interviewed Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff at 140 facilities that oversaw the 1,031 CBOCs that were operational prior to the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration.Of these CBOCs, 173 were closed to face-to-face visits on or after February 1, 2020. Reasons for closure fell into four categories including (a) safety of patients and staff, (b) need for consolidation of...
National Aeronautics and Space Administration OIG
COVID-19 Impacts on NASA’s Major Programs and Projects
This snapshot presents a summary of pandemic-related impacts to 30 of the Agency's major programs and projects at the end of fiscal year 2020 with an estimated impact of approximately $1.6 billion of the $3 billion total in COVID impact reported by NASA.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of Facilities' COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response in Veterans Integrated Service Networks 10 and 20
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 10 and 20 facilities’ COVID-19 pandemic readiness and response. This evaluation focused on emergency preparedness; supplies, equipment, and infrastructure; staffing; access to care; community living center patient care and operations; and facility staff feedback.The OIG has aggregated findings on COVID-19 preparedness and responsiveness from routine inspections to ensure prompt dissemination of information given the quickly...
Small Business Administration OIG
Duplicate Loans Made Under the Paycheck Protection Program
SBA OIG reviewed PPP regulations and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, in addition to guidance published in SBA’s PPP Interim Final Rules and PPP Frequently Asked Questions.We determined SBA did not always have sufficient controls in place to detect and prevent duplicate PPP loans. As a result, lenders made more than one PPP loan disbursement to 4,260 borrowers with the same tax identification number and borrowers with the same business name and address. These disbursements totaled about $692 million for PPP loans approved from April 3 through August 9, 2020.We...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of Veterans Health Administration’s Virtual Primary Care Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review to assess Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) virtual primary care response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the use of virtual care by primary care providers and their perceptions of VA Video Connect (VVC) between February 7 and June 16, 2020.The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to health care delivery worldwide. One strategy initiated by VHA, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to social distance, included expanding the delivery of primary care via virtual care...
Maryland State Legislative Auditor
Review of Procurement of Certain COVID Tests
We have conducted a special review of the procurement and related use of COVID tests from LabGenomics, a foreign-based healthcare company. We also reviewed the circumstances surrounding the termination of two State employees after they had raised concerns related to the COVID tests. Our review was initiated based on a joint request from the chairs of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and the House Health and Government Operations Committees for a review of two COVID-related emergency procurements.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Reporting and Monitoring Personal Protective Equipment Inventory during the Pandemic
The spread of COVID-19 drastically increased the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and gowns, and significantly disrupted the global supply chain. As the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had to compete for PPE for its personnel and patients. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) received hotline allegations that VHA medical facilities could not acquire and maintain enough PPE to keep pace with escalating needs. The OIG assessed how VHA reported and monitored PPE supply levels during the pandemic. The...
Maryland, Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General
Lessons Learned from County COVID Loaner Laptop Purchases
The Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General initiated a review of Montgomery County's purchase of laptop computers to support a mandatory telework order by the Chief Administrative Officer. We sought to determine whether adequate controles were in place during the acquisition, deployment, and subsequent maintenance of the purchased computers.
Department of the Interior OIG
The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Coronavirus Response at Indian Country Detention Facilities
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted. It included $8 billion for direct payments to Indian Tribes and $522 million of direct appropriations to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) for COVID-19 response. Given this infusion of funding, we examined the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian detention system from April 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020, including the actions the BIA and the tribes have taken to respond to outbreaks of this virus, and how other longstanding challenges have affected the BIA’s response...
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
Federal COVID-19 Testing Report: Data Insights from Six Federal Health Care Programs
This report examines COVID-19 testing efforts for six federal health care programs during the first seven months following the declaration of a public health emergency in the United States. Published by the PRAC Health Care Subgroup, the report takes a detailed look at testing data in each of the programs that, when combined, provide benefits or care for about 64 million individuals. We hope this report will help policymakers as they continue to develop and refine their testing efforts related to testing accessibility and availability for at-risk populations, cost effectiveness, and...
Maryland, Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General
Public Health Emergency Grant Program
We conducted this review to examine whether adequate policies, procedures, and controls were in place and followed to efficiently and effectively manage the administration and execution of the public Health Emergency Grant Program. We were also concerned that the speed with which the program was implemented may have resulted in errors that disadvantaged intended grant recipients.
Department of the Interior OIG
Departmental Offices CARES Act Funding Snapshot
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) enacted on March 27, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) received $909.7 million to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The Office of the Secretary (OS) received $158.4 million of the DOI’s CARES Act funding and transferred funds to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and Office of Wildland Fire (OWF). As of November 30, 2020, 5.3 percent of the funding...
Department of Homeland Security OIG
Ineffective Implementation of Corrective Actions Diminishes DHS' Oversight of Its Pandemic Planning
DHS OIG issued a series of three reports between August 2014 and October 2016 examining DHS’ pandemic activities, including 28 recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of DHS planning and response activities. We conducted this verification review to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of DHS’ corrective actions. We focused our review on 11 of 28 key recommendations that dealt with DHS-wide pandemic planning and response activities. We determined that DHS provided the OIG with adequate documentation of its initial plans and actions to address the recommendations to...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Added Measures Could Reduce Veterans’ Risk of COVID-19 Exposure in Transitional Housing
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the measures taken by the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Homeless Program Office, medical facilities, and community service providers to mitigate COVID-19 risks in transitional housing programs for veterans experiencing homelessness.The OIG found that while transitional housing service providers successfully implemented four of six specific Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 risk mitigation measures, the providers could have strengthened implementation of two others.VHA and service provider staff said the Homeless...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of Veterans Health Administration’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of the Veterans Health Administration’s response to anticipated demand and use of emergency department and urgent care center services when faced with the possibility of an influx of patients needing evaluation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was deployed and 63 emergency department and urgent care center directors were interviewed.The OIG learned there was a decreased number of patient visits to the emergency departments (19.8 percent decline) and to the urgent care centers (28.6 percent decline) for January–June 2020 when...
Department of the Interior OIG
Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of October 31, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas, and a $153.7 million transfer from the U.S. Department of Education to the BIE.This report presents the DOI’s progress as of October 31, 2020, in spending CARES Act appropriations. Specifically, the DOI’s expenditures to date total $566,168,083...
Hawaii Office of the State Auditor
"A Virus Like Any Other Virus:" Limited Scope Review of State Building Management in Response to COVID-19 by the Central Services Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services
This limited scope review looks at the measures Department of Accounting and General Services has implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Enhanced Strategy Needed to Reduce Disability Exam Inventory Due to the Pandemic and Errors Related to Canceled Exams
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides disability benefits to veterans. On April 3, 2020, VBA discontinued all in-person disability exams that help determine the severity of medical conditions and the amount of benefits paid. The OIG conducted this review to assess how VBA scheduled and conducted exams during the pandemic to limit veterans’ exposure, minimize processing delays, and ensure claims were not prematurely denied due to missed or canceled in-person exams. The OIG also evaluated VBA’s strategy for addressing the inventory of delayed...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Veterans Crisis Line Challenges, Contingency Plans, and Successes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) operations ranging from contingency planning to quality metrics and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The OIG completed remote interviews, document reviews, and surveyed VCL employees and Suicide Prevention staff. VCL staff had historically worked from communal call centers with shared space and equipment, a model that posed a safety risk to staff during the pandemic. To continue operations, VCL’s primary challenge was to equip and transition nearly 800 employees to telework-based operations. Over the course...
Department of the Interior OIG
Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of September 30, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas, and a $153.7 million transfer from the U.S. Department of Education to the BIE.This report presents the DOI’s progress as of September 30, 2020, in spending CARES Act appropriations. Specifically, the DOI’s expenditures to date total $546,908,092...
Department of the Interior OIG
Lessons Learned From Oversight of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program Grants
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date, the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas, and a $153.7 million transfer from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the BIE.In this report, we present lessons learned from and the risks identified in our earlier audit and investigation work related to the Coastal Impact Assistance...
Maryland, Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General
Lessons Learned from County COVID-19 Grant Programs
The Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General initiated a review of Montgomery County's Public Health Emergency Grant (PHEG) Program to determine whether adequate policies, procedures, and controls were in place to efficiently and effectively manage the administration of PHEG awards.
Hawaii Office of the State Auditor
Limited Scope Review of the State's Oversight of Moneys Received Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund
This review is to inform the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 of possible areas of concern related to the State's tracking of CRF moneys and compliance with certain federal requirements, the most significant of which is that the State is relying almost exclusively on each state department and county to ensure that their use complies with federal requirements
Department of the Interior OIG
Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of August 31, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas, and a $153.7 million transfer from the U.S. Department of Education to the BIE.This report presents the DOI’s progress as of August 31, 2020, in spending CARES Act appropriations. Specifically, the DOI’s expenditures to date total $526,662,366...
Department of the Interior OIG
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Safety Inspection Program COVID-19 Response
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) continued to fulfill its mission by performing safety and environmental inspections for offshore oil and gas operations. We reviewed the actions BSEE’s three regions—the Gulf of Mexico Region, Pacific Region, and Alaska Region—have taken to protect inspectors and offshore employees from COVID-19 and evaluated any impacts the virus had on inspections BSEE conducted since March 2020. We found that BSEE:• Developed, communicated, and updated COVID-19 guidance for all personnel involved with offshore...
Department of Commerce OIG
2020 Census Alert: The Census Bureau Faces Challenges in Ensuring Employee Health Safety During 2020 Census Field Operations
OIG issued this 2020 Census Alert due to our concerns—about the Census Bureau’s (Bureau’s) inconsistent implementation of safety procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as it completed its 2020 Census operations—that required immediate attention. Based on the number and consistency of COVID-19-related OIG hotline complaints that we received, we were concerned that the Bureau was not fully complying with key elements of its own COVID-19 safety requirements—or operating fully in line with recommended guidance provided by the Department of Commerce (the Department), the U...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Appointment Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) took measures to protect patients and employees from COVID-19 by canceling face-to-face appointments that were not urgent and converting some of them to virtual appointments. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) assessed VHA’s appointment management strategies and the status of canceled appointments. The review team found that about five million appointments (68 percent) canceled from March 15 through May 1, 2020, had evidence of follow up or other tracking. Patients completed appointments predominantly by telephone and some by video. Other...
Washington, King County Auditor's Office
Pandemic Response: Three Scenarios Projecting Furlough Cost Savings
This report is the second in a series of savings-focused best practice reviews to be conducted by the Auditor’s Office. We conducted this analysis to illustrate some of the potential furlough options policymakers have when making decisions about how to reduce the County’s costs. Individual departments could also implement these types of furlough structures for their employees. We are not making recommendations at this time.
Department of the Interior OIG
CARES Act Funds for DOI’s Wildland Fire Management Program as of June 19, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas.As part of the $756 million, the Office of the Secretary received $157.4 million to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus across DOI operations, which includes wildland fire management. The DOI approved $11.3 million in funding for the DOI’s Wildland Fire Management (WFM) program through September 30, 2020...
Environmental Protection Agency OIG
EPA OIG's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
See the additional details link below for the full report, report summary, multimedia or any agency follow-up.
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Loan Agreements Need to Provide for Appropriate Special Inspector General Access
Department of the Interior OIG
Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of June 30, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date, the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas and a $153.7 million transfer from the U.S. Department of Education to the Bureau of Indian Education in June.This report presents the DOI’s progress as of June 30, 2020, in spending CARES Act appropriations. Specifically, the DOI’s expenditures...
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Review of Veterans Health Administration’s COVID-19 Response and Continued Pandemic Readiness
On March 26, 2020, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) published its first COVID-19-focused report, OIG Inspection of Veterans Health Administration’s COVID-19 Screening and Pandemic Readiness. In that report, the OIG evaluated how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) was preparing facilities to meet anticipated rising demands. This report outlines VHA’s continued response to the pandemic and provides VHA leaders’ descriptions of the evolving challenges they faced in caring for veterans and potentially nonveteran patients as well. The OIG engaged leaders from 70 selected facilities in...
Department of the Interior OIG
Bureau of Indian Education Snapshot
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $756 million to support the needs of DOI programs, bureaus, Indian Country, and the Insular Areas.As part of the CARES Act, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) received $69 million from the DOI to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the CARES Act funding appropriated directly to the DOI, the CARES Act’s Education Stabilization Fund required the U.S. Department of Education to...
Department of the Interior OIG
Management Advisory - Recommendations for Reimbursing Contractors’ Paid Leave Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
CARES Act Section 3610 allows Federal agencies to reimburse their contractors and subcontractors for any paid leave, including sick leave, that the contractors provide to keep their employees or subcontractors in what the section refers to as a “ready state.” Because these reimbursements present a number of risks and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is already receiving Section 3610 claims from contractors, the DOI urgently needs to put policies in place to ensure consistent oversight of reimbursed leave costs.In this management advisory memorandum, we offer three recommendations that...