Semiannual Report to Congress, September 2025
2025
SAR-2025-09
Semiannual Report
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
Logo
Abbreviation
DOC
Agencies
Department of Commerce
Federal Agency
Yes
Location
United States
What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Commerce OIG maintains a Hotline for receiving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or gross mismanagement in the Department of Commerce’s programs and operations, including any organization or entity receiving Departmental funds. The following is a list of examples of types of allegations that should be reported:
- Contract and grant fraud
- Environmental, health, and safety violations
- Computer crimes (including internet pornography)
- Product substitution and suspect/counterfeit parts
- Bribery, kickbacks, and gratuities
- False statements and false claims
- Conflicts of interest and ethics violations
- Travel fraud
- Theft or abuse of government property
- Gross mismanagement of funds
- Other violations of federal laws and regulations
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
Certain matters are better resolved through other channels, instead of the Commerce OIG Hotline. The following matters are NOT generally investigated by Commerce OIG:
- 911 emergencies regarding a Departmental facility or operation. Report to the local or state law enforcement authorities and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
- Complaints of EEO discrimination and retaliation. Report to the Department of Commerce’s Office of Civil Rights.
- Personal theft. Report to Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
- Personnel matters involving requests for individual relief. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
- Employment related grievances or complaints against management officials unless part of a whistleblower claim. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
- Assistance with the U.S. patent application process (e.g., initial filing, patent examination, and post-examination) and case prosecution concerns (e.g., claim objections, after-final practice, claim rejections and restrictions). Contact the Patents Ombudsman Office (https://www.uspto.gov/patent/ombudsman-program).
Whistleblower Protection Page
Interagency Joint Report on Compliance with the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 - Calendar Years 2023 and 2024
2026
AUD-2025-001
Other
Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
On 18 December 2015, Congress enacted the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (6 U.S.C. § 1501 et seq.) (the Act) to improve cybersecurity in the United States through enhanced sharing of cyber threat information. The Act creates a framework to facilitate and promote the voluntary sharing...
Audit of MBDA Business Center Program
2026
OIG-26-001-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
The Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA’s) Business Center program is a network of centers supporting minority business enterprises that are funded through cooperative agreements with private-sector entities, state entities, native entities, and institutes of higher education. MBDA has an...
Audit of the Department’s Vulnerability Reporting and Resolution Program
2026
OIG-26-002-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
We assessed the effectiveness of the Department’s program for managing public-reported vulnerabilities in its public-facing information technology systems. We found that the Department established a vulnerability disclosure program; however, it was not fully effective. Specifically, the Department’s...
Audit of the Census Bureau’s Progress in Meeting Workforce Hiring Goals for the 2026 Census Test
2025
OIG-25-030-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
The U.S. Census Bureau’s planning for the 2030 census includes multiple phases. As part of the development and integration phase, the bureau will conduct its first census test in 2026, which is a trial run of activities and operations to help prepare for the decennial census. Conducting a census...
Former Chief Financial Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft in Connection with Health Care
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date
Government Contractor Agrees to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve Alleged Violations of the False Claims Act
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date
The United States Patent and Trademark Office Needs to Strengthen Its Patent Examination Quality Review Program
2025
OIG-25-029-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents based on its examination of applications for compliance with Patent Act statutes and relevant case law. USPTO’s Office of Patent and Quality Assurance (OPQA) performs independent quality reviews of examiner office actions to ensure...
Illumina Inc. to Pay $9.8M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Arising from Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Genomic Sequencing Systems
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date
Independent Evaluation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Tornado Forecasting and Warning Services
2025
OIG-25_026-I
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce
Our objective was to assess National Weather Service (NWS) tornado forecasting and warning performance and identify potential opportunities for enhanced effectiveness. We contracted with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), an independent firm, to perform this evaluation. Our office oversaw the...