We audited the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to determine whether it ensured that donations and revenues collected by friends organizations were accounted for and spent in accordance with governing laws.We found that the FWS did not ensure its friends organizations fully accounted for and spent donations and revenues in accordance with governing laws and its own friends program policy. Specifically, we found that the FWS did not maintain the information necessary to manage the friends program. We determined that the FWS was not aware of the number of friends organizations operating across the Nation and did not monitor the amount of donations collected and spent. In addition, the FWS was unable to ensure friends organizations had the necessary documents required to participate in the friends program, such as evidence of nonprofit status. The program is at risk for misuse and mishandling of funds, and undetected violations of partnership agreements and program regulations.We make six recommendations that, if implemented, will help strengthen the FWS’ friends program. The FWS concurred with all six recommendations in its response to our draft report. We consider one recommendation resolved and implemented and five recommendations resolved but not implemented. We will refer the recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget to track implementation. The FWS’ response also included six financial and program management control initiatives that should further enhance its oversight of friends organizations. We commend the FWS for taking extra measures to improve this important program.
| Report Date | Agency Reviewed / Investigated | Report Title | Type | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Needs To Improve Oversight of Its Friends Program | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of the Interior | Review of Recommendations for the Evaluation Report Titled Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Southern Ute Agency’s Management of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Energy Resources (CR-EV-BIA-0011-2014) | Review | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of Energy | Southwestern Federal Power System’s Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Statement Audit | Audit |
|
View Report | |
| Department of Justice | Audit of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Procurement and Administration of Expert Witness Contracts | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of State | Information Report: Systemic Weaknesses Related to the Administration and Oversight of Department of State Contracts and Federal Assistance From FY 2017 to FY 2019 | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of Energy | “Respiratory Equipment Maintenance at the Hanford Site” | Audit |
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View Report | |
| Social Security Administration | The Social Security Administration’s Rejection of State Electronic Death Registration Reports | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of State’s Efforts to Develop and Sustain Afghanistan’s Drug Treatment System: Audit of Costs Incurred by the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economics and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific Results in More than $23 Million in Questioned C | Other | Agency-Wide | View Report | ||
| General Services Administration | Audit of GSA's Fiscal Year 2019 Travel Card Program | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of Agriculture | Consolidated Report of FNS and Selected State Agencies’ Controls Over SFSP | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
