Department of Commerce

This report summarizes work we initiated and completed during this semiannual period on a number of critical U.S. Department of Commerce (Department) activities. Over the past 6 months, our office issued 10 products related to our audit, evaluation, and inspection work. These products addressed...

For our audit of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) monitoring of fiscal year (FY) 2019 disaster relief grants, our objective was to determine whether EDA monitored grants awarded under the FY 2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure...

The objective of our audit was to assess ITA’s progress and actions to prevent, reduce, and remove foreign trade barriers. To address this objective, we assessed ITA’s process for (1) identifying and resolving trade barriers; (2) receiving, recording, and monitoring foreign trade barriers reported...

This report summarizes the following top management and performance challenges facing the Department of Commerce in FY 2024: (1) continuing the transition to zero trust to overcome IT security shortcomings and strengthen cybersecurity; (2) awarding and overseeing grants to expand broadband access to...

For this audit, our objective was to determine if the U.S. Department of Commerce and its bureaus identify and remediate vulnerabilities on their high value IT assets (HVAs) in accordance with federal requirements. We found that while the Department conducts HVA assessments in accordance with...

For our audit of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Polar Weather Satellite program, our objective was to assess the program's execution of selected development activities. To satisfy our objective, we reviewed aspects of the program's environmental testing and pre-launch...

For our evaluation of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) file maintenance of grants awarded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds, our objective was to determine whether EDA properly maintained grant files during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that EDA...

Our audit objective was to assess NOAA’s progress in defining GeoXO’s mission and establishing programmatic baselines. We found the program should: I. Evaluate its plans for the Central satellite mission. II. Improve its approach to achieving performance gains.

For our final report on our audit of the U.S. Census Bureau’s (the Bureau’s) Demographic Programs Directorate’s reimbursable surveys, our overall objective was to determine whether reimbursable surveys conducted by this directorate provided quality and reliable data to help sponsoring federal...

Our objective was to determine whether USPTO’s patent application classification and routing processes were effective. Specifically, we determined whether (1) USPTO adequately ensured that classification contractors were providing quality patent classification and reclassification services; (2)...