Department of the Interior

We audited the costs claimed by the by the State of Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Division), under grants awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. The audit included claims totaling approximately $87.5 million on 147 grants...

We completed our risk assessment of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) grant closeout process as required by the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act of 2016. Our objective was to determine whether an audit or review of the DOI’s grant closeout process was warranted.Our...

We completed our risk assessment of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) grant closeout process as required by the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act of 2016. Our objective was to determine whether an audit or review of the DOI’s grant closeout process was warranted.Our...

We investigated allegations that a senior political employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) violated a Federal ethics pledge by meeting with a former employer during the required 2-year recusal period following the senior employee’s resignation from that organization. We also...

The OIG investigated an allegation that Eric Rickerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) State Supervisor, Lacey, WA, sexually assaulted an FWS employee while the two were at an FWS conference. The assaulted employee said that she, Rickerson, and a another male FWS employee shared a cabin with...

The DOI administers Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. The Secretary delegated administration of these Programs to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).Requirements and restrictions...

On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Among its provisions, the CARES Act 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...

This report presents the results of our inspection of purchases made during fiscal years 2013 and 2015 at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas following information we received that the park had purchased air conditioning units and shade shelters but never installed them.Our objective was to...