Federal Reports

Authorized in 2007, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy, created to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States. Since its inception, ARPA-E has provided $4.21 billion in research and development funding to more than 1,700 projects designed to disrupt and create major shifts in the energy industry to the benefit of the U.S. In accomplishing its mission, ARPA-E funds projects in line with the U.S. manufacturing (USM) requirement, which stipulates that awardees substantially manufacture any products or processes created using Federal funds, also known as subject inventions, within the U.S.

Given the importance of the USM requirement to our national interests, we initiated this audit to determine whether ARPA-E was effectively implementing the domestic manufacturing requirement.

We found that ARPA-E could improve its oversight processes to more effectively implement the domestic manufacturing requirement. Specifically, we found that ARPA-E did not always perform site visits, as required. Further, we found that ARPA-E did not validate self-reported utilization data.

These issues occurred, in part, because ARPA-E did not always follow its policies and guidance. Further, APRA-E’s policies and guidance were limited, as it did not establish criteria for deviation from site visit expectations or prescribe documentation requirements. In addition, ARPA-E lacked policies and procedures for officials to validate utilization data related to disclosed subject inventions.

Without consistently performing and documenting site visits or validating utilization data, ARPA-E is unable to consistently apply oversight procedures related to the USM requirement.

To address the issues identified in this report, we made one recommendation that, if fully implemented, should help ensure that ARPA-E awardees are complying with the USM requirement.

Why We Did This Report

In November 2025, while planning for future grant audits, an OIG audit team could not find the 2021-2025 plan among the EPA’s online resources and inquired about it with the Office of Finance and Administration. Following that inquiry, the EPA made an updated 2021-2025 plan with changes publicly available through its grants web page. 

Summary of Findings

The updated plan does not note that the EPA changed the original publication. As a result, readers could erroneously conclude that the updated plan 1) is the same plan released by the former acting assistant administrator whose name and photograph appear on the foreword and 2) accurately reflects the message of the 21 Agency senior resource officials named in the plan.

A Direct Examination (Attestation) Report to evaluate the design and implementation of the FEC’s internal control and enterprise risk management processes and determine whether the programs were operating in accordance with applicable criteria, including OMB Circular A-123, OMB Circular A-11 Section 200, the GAO Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (Green Book) and applicable provisions of the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act 2010 (GPRAMA), and Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982 (FMFIA).

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Inspector General released their semiannual report for the reporting period ending March 31, 2026.  The report is part of the semiannual requirement to communicate OIG oversight activities of the CPSC to Congress and the American people.

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

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

This report summarizes the oversight work performed by EAC OIG during the 6-month period ended March 31, 2026.

This report highlights the accomplishments achieved through our oversight and investigative activities for the 6-month period ending March 31, 2026. As described in this report, our oversight work during this reporting period continued to address high-risk programs and operations of the Smithsonian Institution.