Federal Reports

To view this interactive report, visit: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/concurrent-inspections-bop-food-service-operations

The Office of Inspector General is issuing this inspection report to assess the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) initial response to Hurricane Helene, including staffing, loan application volume, and timeliness of disaster loan approvals.

We found that in SBA’s initial disaster assistance response to Hurricane Helene, the agency promptly established a field presence, adequately staffed recovery centers, responded timely to applicant queries, and processed loans in a timely manner.

We found that SBA processed loan applications in 20 days on average but was unable to disburse many of those loans due to a 68-day funding lapse. As a result, the overall processing time was 69 days on average with the funding lapse and 64 days on average without it. In addition, we identified opportunities for SBA to optimize its outreach efforts so disaster survivors are aware of the assistance available to them.

We recommended SBA review current outreach strategies; immediately conduct outreach efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina and perform a root cause analysis to determine the basis of insufficient outreach efforts in these two states; and implement appropriate changes to ensure maximum awareness of available assistance to disaster survivors that account for rural areas.

Management’s planned actions to review staffing assignments to ensure adequate coverage for future disasters and immediately conduct outreach efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina resolved Recommendations 1 and 2. Management’s response did not resolve Recommendation 3; therefore, we will seek resolution in accordance with our audit follow-up policy.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates NOAA’s fleet of specialized environmental data-collecting aircraft, including three “hurricane hunter” aircraft: one Gulfstream-IV-SP (G-IV) that is 29 years old and flies high-altitude storm surveillance missions and two Lockheed WP-3D aircraft that are 48 and 49 years old and fly directly into tropical cyclones (low-altitude storm reconnaissance). The G-IV has exceeded its original estimated service life, and the WP-3Ds will reach the end of their estimated service lives in 2030. 

NOAA has initiated replacement efforts for its aging hurricane hunter aircraft and Congress has appropriated funds for replacement aircraft. NOAA will replace the G-IV with two modified Gulfstream 550s and will replace the WP-3Ds with Lockheed C-130Js. The objective of our audit was to assess NOAA’s progress replacing its hurricane hunter aircraft.

We found that (1) hurricane hunter replacement programs started late, delayed definition of requirements, and did not identify and manage key risks; (2) hurricane hunter replacement programs need more effective management and executive oversight; and (3) technically complex acquisition and development programs require mature systems engineering practices.

We made seven recommendations to help NOAA apply effective program management and oversight to these major acquisitions.

The U.S. Postal Service needs effective and productive operations to fulfill its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and affordable mail service to the American public. It has a vast transportation network that moves mail and equipment among approximately 315 processing facilities and 31,200 post offices, stations, and branches. The Postal Service is transforming its processing and logistics networks to become more scalable, reliable, visible, efficient, automated, and digitally integrated. This includes modernizing operating plans and aligning the workforce; leveraging emerging technologies to provide world-class visibility and tracking of mail and packages in near real time; and optimizing the surface and air transportation network. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General reviews the efficiency of mail processing operations at facilities across the country and provides management with timely feedback to further the Postal Service’s mission.

Why We Did This Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General contracted this audit to assess the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s compliance with Fiscal Year 2023–2024 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 Reporting Metrics during fiscal year 2024. We contracted with SB & Company LLC to perform this audit under our direction and oversight.

Summary of Findings

SB & Company concluded that the CSB achieved an overall maturity of Level 2, Defined, in fiscal year 2024. This means that the CSB’s information security policies, procedures, and strategies are formalized and documented but not consistently implemented. SB & Company identified an area of needed improvement associated with the Reporting Metrics’ Risk Management domain in the Identify function area. SB & Company concluded that the CSB should ensure that its information can be reliably accessed in a timely manner even if key personnel are absent. Specifically, the CSB should ensure that its deputy chief information officer position is filled or that another CSB representative is available to respond to Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 inquiries.