Federal Reports

In accordance with the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, we are submitting what we have determined to be the most significant management and performance challenges facing the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), for inclusion in the DOI’s Agency Financial Report for fiscal year 2019.Six challenge areas are included in this year’s report, namely financial management, workplace culture and human capital, responsibility to American Indians, energy management, IT security, and water programs.Each challenge area connects to the DOI’s mission and strategic plan, and reflects continuing vulnerabilities and emerging issues.This report is based on specific OIG and U.S. Government Accountability Office reviews and other reports, as well as our general knowledge of the DOI’s programs and operations. We met with key DOI officials to gain their perspectives on the challenge areas and progress made under each.

What We Looked AtWe contracted with the independent public accounting firm Leon Snead & Company, P.C., to audit the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, and September 30, 2018, and to report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance with laws and other matters. The contract requires the audit to be performed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted Government auditing standards, Office of Management and Budget audit guidance, and the Governmental Accountability Office's and Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency's Financial Audit Manual. In connection with the contract, we performed a quality control review of Leon Snead's report dated November 12, 2019, and related documentation, and inquired of its representatives.What We FoundOur quality control review disclosed no instances in which Leon Snead did not comply, in all material respects, with U.S. generally accepted Government auditing standards.RecommendationsSTB concurred with Leon Snead's three recommendations. We agree with Leon Snead's recommendations and are not making any additional recommendations.

Audit of Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Statement

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Report on Internal Control

The audit of an AmeriCorps grant awarded directly from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to the St. Bernard Project (SBP) identified questioned Federal costs of $53,490, questioned match costs of $51,246, and compliance findings. These costs were incurred between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018. Most of the questioned costs were due to (1) inadequate payroll records, (2) untimely National Service Criminal History Checks (NSCHCs), and (3) an unallowable fine. SBP concurred with most of the findings and questioned costs and began taking corrective actions. SBP implemented the CNCS’s approved vendor, Truescreen, to perform it NSCHCs. CNCS management concurred with the recommendations and stated it will resolve the questioned costs during audit resolution.

NASA receives "clean" (or unmodified) audit opinion on its Fiscal Year 2019 financial statements.