Federal Reports

For our audit of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Polar Weather Satellite program, our objective was to assess the program's execution of selected development activities. To satisfy our objective, we reviewed aspects of the program's environmental testing and pre-launch readiness efforts for JPSS-2, the second satellite in the Joint Polar Satellite Series. Generally, the program was successful in the testing and readiness efforts we reviewed for JPSS-2. However, we found the program should should I. take additional steps to ensure instruments on the next JPSS satellites, JPSS-3 and JPSS-4, are protected from contamination and tested as they will fly; II. improve its lessons-learned process so it and other programs can learn from its experiences; and III. improve its requirements verification process before JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 verification.efforts begin.

NASA established this program nearly 30 years ago to spur new science and solutions for meeting the challenges of climate change. While the program provides opportunities to advance Earth science research, a sharper focus on solutions that benefit society would serve an even greater good.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of the Social Security Administration’s eligibility and payment determinations for Supplemental Security Income applicants and/or recipients who own real property.

Our objective was to assess the company’s early efforts to comply with all Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requirements, with a focus on its ability to use, account for, and report on the $22 billion in direct IIJA funding it will receive.As of July 2023, the company has received about $731 million in direct IIJA funding and has spent about $638 million. We found that the company is actively positioning itself to comply with IIJA’s operations, policy, and funding requirements, including its use, accounting, and reporting of the $22 billion in direct funding. For example, it established an IIJA implementation committee, developed an IIJA compliance tracker, provided training on IIJA grant compliance and reporting requirements, and began periodically communicating management’s expectations for the responsible use of IIJA funds. The company also developed a spending plan for IIJA funds and a plan for meeting accounting and reporting requirements. These are positive early steps, but because the company is still implementing them it is too soon to assess their effectiveness. Accordingly, we are not making recommendations in this report but will continue to monitor the company’s progress.