Reports
Federal Student Aid's Processes for R2T4 Waivers Loan Cancellations and Pell Exclusions
The purpose of the audit is to determine whether Federal Student Aid has adequate processes (1) for students who withdrew because of the coronavirus pandemic, to waive the return of Title IV (R2T4) requirements, cancel Direct Loans received during the payment period, and exclude Pell Grants received during the payment period from Federal Pell lifetime usage; and (2) for schools to report the number and amounts of R2T4 waivers applied.
External COVID-19 Loss Mitigation
HUD OIG is conducting a review of a nationwide mortgage servicing company that provides servicing and origination for FHA loans. In the summer of 2021, FHA introduced new recovery loss mitigation options for borrowers exiting forbearance, which will provide a path to deep and sustained recovery for borrowers who were significantly impacted by the pandemic by reinstating their loans from a delinquent to current status. Our objective is to determine if the servicer provided all available options to borrowers with FHA insured loans to help them stay in their homes after the COVID-19 forbearance ended.
COVID-19 Loss Mitigation
HUD OIG is conducting an audit of COVID-19 loss mitigation. In the summer of 2021, FHA introduced new recovery loss mitigation options for borrowers exiting forbearance, which will provide a path to deep and sustained recovery for borrowers who were significantly impacted by the pandemic by reinstating their loans from a delinquent to current status. Our audit objective is to determine if delinquent borrowers of FHA-insured loans received all available options to stay in their homes after forbearance ended.
The Department’s Use of Pandemic Assistance Administration Funds
The objective of our review is to determine the Department’s progress on spending program administration funds authorized by coronavirus response and relief laws, including how those funds have been used to date and the Department’s plans for using remaining funds.
University of Cincinnati’s Use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Student Aid and Institutional Grants
Fraud Risk Management Assessment and Fraud Risk Identification
HUD OIG is conducting an audit to assess HUD’s overall fraud risk management program, and to identify fraud risks for funds that HUD received from the Coronavirus Aid Recovery and Economic Stability Act and American Rescue Plan Act. Our objectives are to 1) assess HUD’s progress in implementing a fraud risk management framework, at the enterprise and program office levels, that encompasses control activities to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud; and 2) develop an inventory of fraud risks that HUD has not already identified for the funds appropriated by the CARES and ARP Acts for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Rental Assistance, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Public Housing Operating Fund program.
Audit of the Utilization of ARPA Information Technology Modernization Funds at the Railroad Retirement Board
Audit of the Railroad Retirement Board Mobile Phones Deployed as a Result of the Pandemic
CDBG CARES Act Grantee Challenges
HUD OIG is reviewing HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development’s (CPD) HUD’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG-CV) program. The CARES Act provided $4.9 billion in CCDBG-CV funds to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Our objective is to determine what challenges grantees faced in obligating and spending their allocated CDBG-CV funds for activities that prepare for, prevent, or respond to COVID-19 and its impact.
Audit of the State of Michigan’s Administration of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) Grant
Determine whether Michigan designed and implemented (1) awarding processes that ensured that the GEER grant was used to support local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs) that were most significantly impacted by the coronavirus or LEAs, IHEs, or other education-related entities within the State that were deemed essential for carrying out emergency educational services, and (2) monitoring processes to ensure that subgrantees used GEER grant funds in accordance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other applicable Federal requirements.