Federal Reports

What We Looked AtExtreme weather events, including those potentially caused by effects of climate change, are a source of major disruptions to the National Airspace System (NAS). In November 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorizing $25 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund programs to address aging aviation infrastructure. Specifically, it funded the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, Airport Terminal Program, and the Facilities and Equipment program. Also, in November 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14052, which directed agencies tasked with implementing IIJA to take steps, such as prioritizing as appropriate and to the extent consistent with law, building resilient infrastructure projects that help combat climate change. As part of our IIJA funding oversight and given the policy emphasis on climate change and resiliency, we initiated this audit. Our objective was to assess FAA’s plans for prioritizing resiliency into IIJA aviation programs. What We FoundFAA has taken steps to address resiliency in discretionary IIJA aviation programs. For example, FAA incorporates resiliency and climate change in its project selection criteria for these programs. However, FAA has not established a mechanism for collecting and reporting data on the extent to which IIJA-funded projects address FAA’s and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) strategic goals on climate and sustainability. Also, FAA does not have a framework to prioritize projects that address climate change in its standards. As a result, FAA and airports are not required to consider climate change impacts when proposing infrastructure projects. However, in September 2021, FAA entered into an interagency agreement with DOT’s John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) for a 5-year study to identify the climate change risk to airport systems. Yet, the results of this study, which is currently scheduled to conclude in 2026, will not be available for many projects that receive funding before the study’s end. Our RecommendationsWe made two recommendations to improve FAA’s prioritization of resiliency and climate change in IIJA aviation programs.

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a national review to determine compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policy on the management of emergent care needs of acute sexual assault victim-survivors. Sexual assault is an invasive form of interpersonal violence that can have medical, psychological, and legal consequences, requiring a coordinated and compassionate response from medical providers and law enforcement officers when victim-survivors seek care.The OIG found deficiencies in adherence to VHA policy, including requirements to ensure the provision of sexually transmitted infection prophylaxis and pregnancy prophylaxis when clinically indicated, to offer psychological counseling, and in the documentation of signature informed consent for forensic examinations. The majority of VHA facilities utilized community sexual assault forensic examiner (SAFE) resources to provide forensic examinations, which was identified as a best practice for most VHA sites.Care related to acute sexual assault is a low frequency but crucial occurrence in VHA, presenting challenges maintaining staff knowledge and training. Additionally, facility and community resources as well as jurisdictional requirements on reporting and evidence collection for acute sexual assault vary across facilities. VHA policy establishes requirements to ensure that veterans have access to safe, high-quality care. However, supplemental facility policy or guidance is needed to ensure facility procedures align with local community resources and jurisdictional requirements to ensure frontline staff have easy access to current clinical practices when responding to acute sexual assault. The OIG determined that opportunities exist for many facilities to improve guidance addressing management of acute sexual assault patients. Improved facility guidance would help ensure implementation of VHA policy by providing frontline staff and VA police with relevant, accessible local procedures and resources when responding to patients presenting with acute sexual assault.The OIG made eight recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health related to practice deficiencies and improving guidance.

An Amtrak Coach Cleaner based in Beech Grove, Indiana, was terminated from employment on December 12, 2023, following his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the employee violated company policies by falsely claiming employment with the U.S. Army from 2004-2015 on a resume he submitted to the company, when he was actually serving time in prison for arson.

An Amtrak electrician based in Wilmington, Delaware, violated company policies by engaging in outside employment by operating his general contracting business while on a medical leave of absence. The employee was on a medical leave of absence since February 2020 and had not returned to work as of the issuance of our investigative report. The employee resigned on December 12, 2023, prior to his scheduled administrative hearing.

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) Semiannual Report to Congress, covering the period from April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.