Department of Commerce

We contracted with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), an independent firm, to evaluate the U.S. Census Bureau's EAE operation. The original objective was to determine whether the bureau prepared adequate and timely operational assessments that included the appropriate metrics to support...

For our evaluation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (the Department’s) ethics oversight of USPTO patent examiners, our evaluation objective was to determine whether USPTO and the Department effectively administered ethics rules to...

For our audit of the Department's multifactor authentication (MFA) for its high value assets (HVA), our objective was to determine whether the Department has implemented MFA for its HVAs in accordance with zero trust architecture (ZTA) principles. To address this objective, we determined the extent...

The objective of our audit was to determine whether USPTO’s processes and activities for acquisition planning are effective and consistent with established practices, procedures, and regulations. Overall, we found that USPTO’s processes and activities for acquisition planning were ineffective and...

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...