Reports
Search reports, investigative results, and agency plansShowing 1 - 34 of 34 results
Department of Commerce OIG
EDA Needs to Improve Oversight of CARES Act Revolving Loan Funds to Ensure Loans Are Made to Eligible Borrowers and Used as Intended
Our audit found that loan costs claimed by the RLF operators were not allowable, allocable, and reasonable. Specifically, we found that the four operators awarded 11 of the 19 loans (58 percent), totaling $4,020,050, to ineligible borrowers that did not meet the eligibility criteria in the operators’ respective RLF operational plan, and borrowers did not use the RLF funds for the purpose intended by the CARES Act. As a result, we are questioning $4,020,050 in loan funds. In addition, we found RLF operators with 20 percent or more loans that were delinquent, in default, or written off, and EDA...
Department of Commerce OIG
The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture Met Pandemic Funds Requirements but Was Slow to Disburse Fishery Consolidated Appropriations Act Funds
This final report provides the results of our audit of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture’s (PR DOA’s) use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act) and Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 funds. Our objective was to determine whether PR DOA’s costs claimed through the CARES Act and CAA funds were allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with federal cost principles.3 We conducted this audit as part of a response to a congressional request. This report provides answers to congressional questions related to CARES Act and CAA funds. To...
Department of Commerce OIG
Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Properly Disbursed Funds but Was Slow in Expending Fishery Disaster Assistance Funds
We audited the Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER’s) use of Federal Emergency and Pandemic Relief Financial Assistance Funds. Our audit objective was to determine whether federal funds received by PRDNER to support its fisheries in recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic1 and damages caused by several hurricanes were properly disbursed and used for their intended purpose. We conducted this audit in response to a congressional request, and answers to congressional questions about disaster relief funds are included in this report. Overall, we...
Department of Commerce OIG
Independent Program Evaluation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pandemic Relief Program
For the independent program evaluation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pandemic Relief Program, the evaluation objective was to determine whether NIST grantees and subrecipients accounted for and expended pandemic relief funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and subsequent funding authorizations in accordance with federal laws and regulations. We contracted with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), an independent firm, to perform this evaluation. Our office oversaw the evaluation’s progress to ensure that IDA performed it in...
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19 - Food and Nutrition Service’s Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer - Final Report
In our final report, we reviewed key aspects of the Food and Nutrition Service funding and administration of Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer assistance.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID 19 - ReConnect Program
This informational report provides general information and highlights CARES Act funding as of June 30, 2023. This informational report does not contain any findings or recommendations, and it was prepared using information obtained during the audit work and from public sources.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19 - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program - Direct Support
We determined whether Farm Service Agency (FSA) provided timely and accurate Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) direct payments to eligible recipients.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Farmers to Families Food Box Program Administration
In our final report, we assessed the controls Agricultural Marketing Service developed and implemented to ensure awardees fulfilled the obligations of their contracts.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Forest Service’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic at Recreation Sites
OIG identified the prevention measures that Forest Service established for recreation sites in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Agriculture OIG
USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Data Story
This data story is the second in the series from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and focuses on the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This product utilized data analytics, visualizations, and data storytelling methods to enhance transparency of how the CFAP 1 and CFAP 2 programs evolved over time.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Oversight of the Emergency Food Assistance Program—Final Report
In our final report, we determined what TEFAP flexibilities were available to States during the pandemic and FNS’ oversight of the States and Eligible Recipient Agencies’ compliance with administrative fund requirements.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Food Safety and Inspection Service Pandemic Response at Establishments
We reviewed the actions FSIS took relating to COVID-19 to ensure the continuation of inspection operations at meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments, including to ensure the health and safety of FSIS inspectors and how FSIS spent the $33 million in CARES Act funding.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Farmers to Families Food Box Program Administration—Interim Report
We assessed how AMS designed the Farmers to Families Food Box Program solicitation, whether AMS awarded the contracts in accordance withrequirements, and what methodology AMS used to allocate funding.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19―Food and Nutrition Service's Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer―Interim Report
Our ongoing inspection is reviewing P‑EBT—this report provides the results on Objectives 1, 3, and 4 for P‑EBT funding and outreach activities, and the procedures and criteria FNS used to approve State plans.
Department of Agriculture OIG
USDA COVID-19 Funding Dashboard
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Funding Dashboard allows stakeholders to explore an overview of the sources and uses of USDA’s COVID-19 funding. This interactive dashboard displays the amounts of USDA COVID-19 funding enacted, budgeted, obligated, and spent, by appropriations act, agency, program area, and use of funds, as identified by USDA’s Office of Budget and Program Analysis and by the Forest Service.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Oversight of the Emergency Food Assistance Program—Interim Report
The objective of our ongoing inspection is to evaluate FNS’ oversight of TEFAP—this report provides the interim results on what criteria FNS used to approve States for food and administrative funds provided under the FFCR and CARES Acts.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Modifications in Response to the Pandemic
We determined how RBCS implemented the B&I CARES Act Guaranteed Loan Program and made modifications to help guaranteed lenders with existing borrowers experiencing cash flow issues.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Oversight of the Emergency Food Assistance Program-Interim Report
The objective of our ongoing inspection is to evaluate FNS’ oversight of TEFAP—this report provides interim results on whether FNS identified risks related to the safeand efficient distribution of USDA-food assistance to States during the COVID-19pandemic.
Department of Agriculture OIG
COVID-19—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Online Purchasing in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019
OIG reviewed FNS’ controls over the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Department of Commerce OIG
NIST Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act
Our objective was to determine whether NIST is complying with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NIST took to implement and comply with the CARES Act, (2) challenges NIST faced during implementation, and (3) NIST’s status in the processing of applications and awarding funds under the CARES Act. Overall, we found that NIST implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act and applicable grant award policies and procedures. In addition, NIST implemented measures to mitigate challenges resulting from an increased workload and a forced transition...
Department of Commerce OIG
NOAA Fisheries Implemented the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act but Faces Challenges with the Pace of Funds Disbursement to Fishery Participants
For our evaluation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, also known as NOAA Fisheries) plan for the implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding, our objective was to determine whether NOAA complied with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NOAA took in implementing the requirements for awarding funds, (2) challenges NOAA faced during implementation, and (3) NOAA’s current status in processing applications and award funds under the CARES Act...
Department of Agriculture OIG
Survey of Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspectors’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Safety in the Work Environment
This product presents the results of the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) February – March 2021 pulse survey of Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspectors to obtain information about how FSIS frontline inspectors perceive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) safety in their work environments.
Department of Commerce OIG
EDA Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act
This memorandum provides the results of our evaluation of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) plan for the implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)1 funding. Our objective was to determine whether EDA implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps EDA took in implementing the CARES Act, (2) challenges EDA faced during implementation, and (3) EDA’s ongoing efforts in awarding funds under the CARES Act. Overall, we found that EDA implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act...
Department of Agriculture OIG
USDA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Funding
On May 28, 2020, we initiated a non-audit service to identify U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) funding. Our objective was to identify the funding streams USDA used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as of May 31, 2020.
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 Agriculture OIG
COVID-19: FS' Wildland Fire Response Plans
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) comments on the Wildland Fire Response Plans (WFRP) that were developed in order to more safely and effectively combat wildland fires during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Department of Agriculture OIG