The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2026 Top Management Challenges

Why We Did This Report

The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires each inspector general to prepare an annual statement summarizing what the inspector general considers to be “the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency” and to briefly assess the agency’s progress in addressing those challenges. To that end, we have prepared this statement, which identifies what we consider to be the six most serious management and performance challenges facing the EPA in fiscal year 2026. These challenges represent the Agency’s vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, as well as the most significant barriers to the EPA accomplishing its mission.

Summary of Findings

We identified six top management challenges for the EPA: 

• Managing contracts, grants, and associated data systems.
• Meeting statutory requirements for ensuring the safe use of chemicals.
• Managing information technology modernization.
• Maintaining mission efficiency and effectiveness during organizational change.
• Managing cooperative federalism and state oversight.
• Preparing for and responding to natural and manmade disasters.