Federal Reports

Although the decline of First-Class Mail volume rightfully gets a lot of attention, it is important to understand the underlying trends affecting its key segments, including correspondence mail. This paper examines how key and interrelated factors like electronic diversion, demographic changes, the economy, pricing, and evolving security and privacy concerns have affected the growth and decline of correspondence mail during the past 15 years, as well as how these factors could affect correspondence mail in the future.

The review was performed to determine whether the Department made purchase card transactions that were potentially illegal, improper, or erroneous. We performed this review in conjunction with a government-wide project initiated by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), Information Technology (IT) Committee, to determine risks associated with government purchase card transactions. We found no instances of purchase card transactions that appeared to be illegal, improper, or erroneous for the transactions included in our review. However, we did identify areas where the Department could improve its internal controls over purchase card use. Specifically, we found instances where purchase cardholders did not always follow Department policy, to include obtaining or maintaining adequate documentation to support purchases. As a result, there is greater likelihood that cardholders may make inappropriate purchases, potentially resulting in an increased risk of fraud and misuse of funds