USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints

Submitting OIG:

Department of Agriculture OIG

Report Description:

OIG evaluated OASCR’s oversight of the civil rights complaints process.

Date Issued:

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Agriculture

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

60601-0001-21

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
60601-0001-21FR508FOIAredactedpublic930-signed.pdf	8 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation	Additional Details
1	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Evaluate the timeframe to process program complaints and, based on this analysis, develop and implement timeframes and a success rate to ensure program complaints are processed in a prompt and timely manner.
2	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Based on the analysis performed in Recommendation 1, update Departmental guidance outlining timeframes for processing program complaints. Once updated, publish the Departmental guidance on OASCR’s public website.
3	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Develop and implement a strategy to routinely evaluate and address OASCR's staffing and funding resources to ensure that program complaints are processed in a timely manner.
4	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Adhere to the 180-day timeframe established within the Departmental guidance until new timeframes have been developed and implemented.
6	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Revise and update the memorandum of understanding with HUD with timeframes for processing complaints based on OASCR’s analysis (see Recommendation 1) to ensure program complaints are processed in a timely manner.
8	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Revise and update the memorandum of understanding with HUD to implement effective controls over Rural Development, such as conducting audits or compliance reviews of Rural Development, on a recurring basis to evaluate Rural Development's complaint process and improve the timeliness of complaints referred to Rural Development.
12	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.
13	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.
14	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Evaluate procedures for documenting reviews performed at each stage of the complaint process to ensure facts and events are presented accurately and appropriately.
15	Open	Yes	USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints
Revise internal procedures to require that case files are returned to Investigations to document the review of the ROI by PCD for sufficient facts and evidence collected by Investigations when a new issue is introduced after the investigation is completed and the ROI has been approved.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Yes

USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints

Evaluate the timeframe to process program complaints and, based on this analysis, develop and implement timeframes and a success rate to ensure program complaints are processed in a prompt and timely manner.

Open

Yes

USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints

Based on the analysis performed in Recommendation 1, update Departmental guidance outlining timeframes for processing program complaints. Once updated, publish the Departmental guidance on OASCR’s public website.