Federal Reports

As SBA shifts from reviewing applications to servicing COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Targeted EIDL Advances, the potential for identifying additional fraudulent loans increases significantly as borrowers default. The ability to recover funds and prosecute fraud relies on having continued access to loan and grant data, especially regarding evidential matter for audits and investigations.In February 2022, OIG found that SBA had been migrating data from its software provider without a data migration plan. This software service provider is an outside company contracted to provide cloud-based software solutions. Without advance planning for data migration and defined acceptance criteria, SBA took reactive measures to prevent the loss of vital program data when the contract ended on June 30, 2022.To address concerns about data migration challenges for SBA’s COVID-19 EIDL pandemic relief program, we suggest the SBA design and implement a comprehensive migration plan for the COVID-19 EIDL program, to include defined acceptance criteria and robust testing, with detailed project milestones and defined areas of responsibility for program management, information technology, and procurement groups so that data is preserved to meet the needs of all stakeholders.SBA managers stated they were working to modify the software service provider contract to ensure data will remain available for future litigation efforts. Management’s plan to modify the contract would ensure data is preserved. Once the contract modification is complete, the risk of data loss will be mitigated. Safeguarding the data from destruction beyond the June 30, 2022 contract expiration will allow SBA to support legal proceedings for the immediate future.

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Stone Mountain Post Office in Stone Mountain, GA (Project Number 22-124). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Stone Mountain Post Office is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Stone Mountain Post Office for our audit.

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Marietta Main Post Office (MPO) in Marietta, GA (Project Number 22- 123). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Marietta MPO is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Marietta MPO for our audit.

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Atlanta Main Post Office (MPO) in Atlanta, GA (Project Number 22‑122). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Atlanta MPO is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Atlanta MPO for our audit.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection to assess the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) process in responding to a December 2020 medication recall. The recall included two medications, an antidepressant and erectile dysfunction treatment, which were incorrectly packaged together in the same bottle by the distributor.The OIG determined that the VHA medication recall process generally met VHA requirements. However, the OIG identified potential vulnerabilities related to the monitoring and reporting of medication recall adverse drug events and variations in the software used to record medication lot numbers in two VHA medical facilities named in the allegations—the VA Oklahoma City Healthcare System and VA North Texas Health Care System.The OIG found that during the medication recall, the VHA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) monitored communications and responded according to VHA policy requirements. NCPS emailed designated VHA leaders and staff providing known details, required actions, and instructions. VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management followed VHA requirements to distribute medication recall safety information throughout VHA medical center facilities and ensured notification of patients affected by the recalled medications. The OIG found that VHA medical facility staff were responsible for notifying all affected patients.Adverse drug events resulting from recalled medications are not identified specifically as a category nor required to be reported in the VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System. Therefore, the OIG could not determine if VHA monitored all adverse drug events from recalled medications.The OIG made two recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health related to the monitoring and reporting of medication recall adverse drug events and vulnerabilities in the medication recall process due to variances in VHA medical facility processes.

We audited costs claimed and grant compliance by the Nevada Department of Wildlife under grants awarded by the FWS.