Federal Reports

We investigated an allegation that U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director James Reilly retaliated against a USGS employee after the employee filed a complaint with our office about Reilly’s conduct. We substantiated the allegation. We issued a report on our investigation to the Secretary of the Interior for any action deemed appropriate.

Michael Hollingsworth, a resident of New York, was sentenced on October 26, 2020, in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, to 36 months of probation and forfeiture of $200 for falsifying an Amtrak pre-employment drug test. Hollingsworth received cash from an Amtrak job applicant to submit a fraudulent drug test sample so the applicant would pass Amtrak’s drug screening requirement. At the time, Hollingsworth was the owner and operator of DDW Drug Testing Services, a subcontractor that conducts pre-employment drug-test collections for Amtrak’s prime contractor. His company served as the primary drug test sample collector for Amtrak in the New York City area since 2016. He previously pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme on November 19, 2019.In addition to our investigation into Hollingsworth’s activities, we issued a management information report to the company presenting our observations regarding Amtrak’s prime contractor. Our report identified a disturbing lack of due diligence by the contractor regarding their subcontractors involved in the pre-employment drug testing process. We also found that the prime contractor was less than candid with Amtrak officials and us about prior problems with Hollingsworth. The company concurred with our observations and took corrective action to address them.

What We Looked AtThis report presents the results of our quality control review (QCR) of an audit of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) information security program and practices. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) requires agencies to develop, implement, and document agency-wide information security programs and practices. FISMA also requires inspectors general to conduct annual reviews of their agencies' information security programs and report the results to the Office of Management and Budget.To meet this requirement, we contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to conduct this audit subject to our oversight. The audit objective was to determine the effectiveness of DOT's information security program and practices in five function areas--Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.What We FoundWe performed a QCR of CLA's report and related documentation. Our QCR disclosed no instances in which CLA did not comply, in all material respects, with generally accepted Government auditing standards.RecommendationsCLA made 18 recommendations. DOT concurs with recommendations 1, 3 through 15, and 17 and 18 and partially concurs with recommendations 2 and 16. CLA considers all 18 recommendations resolved but open pending completion of planned actions.

Our annual plan identifies the audits, inspections, and other activities that the OIG intends to undertake to assist the U.S. Department of Education in fulfilling its responsibilities to America’s citizens and students.

The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires Executive Branch Inspectors General to identify and report annually on the top management challenges facing their agencies. We also adopt this requirement as a best practice. These top management challenges provide a forward-looking assessment for the coming fiscal year to aid GPO in focusing attention on the most serious management and performance issues.