Federal Reports

Semiannual Report to Congress for the period October 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023

This report summarizes work we initiated and completed during this semiannual period on a number of critical Departmental activities. Over the past 6 months, our office issued 13 products related to our audit, evaluation, and inspection work. These products addressed programs and personnel associated with the Bureau of Industry and Security, United States Census Bureau, First Responder Network Authority, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the Department itself. This report also describes our investigative activities addressing programs and personnel associated with the United States Economic Development Administration, NOAA, and USPTO.

The Office of Evaluation began preliminary research related to the Program Management Improvement Accountability Act (PMIAA) of 2016. The objective was to determine how HUD has implemented and complied with the requirements of PMIAA. After completing informational interviews with HUD officials and reviewing related documentation, we have determined that a full evaluation is premature at this time because HUD is still implementing key elements of PMIAA

Based on our evaluation of 18 sampled OTFOC contracts and 16 sampled noncompetitive grants awarded in FYs 2020 and 2021, we determined that DHS components complied with applicable guidance when awarding contracts and grants. DHS officials supported award decisions with the required planning, market research, and justification and approval documentation to ensure effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars

This report was issued in conjunction with the Office of Inspector General for the Railroad Retirement Board's Semiannual Report to the Congress. It was incorporated by reference in the corresponding Semiannual Report which is available at the link below.

Semiannual Report to Congress, October 2022 through March 2023

Semiannual Report to the Congress October 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023

During this semiannual reporting period, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) completed the Congressionally mandated Financial Statement Audit of the NEA for fiscal year 2022. We also worked with the NEA on the follow-up process, required by the Office of Management and Budget, that resulted in the NEA and awardees taking corrective actions on eleven OIG recommendations – nearly a quarter of open recommendations for the semiannual period. In addition, we resolved 83 percent of the hotline complaints received during the semiannual period, and added two audits to our annual audit plan based on the remaining hotline complaints received.Finally, we continuously monitor NEA’s top management challenges and noted that the NEA continues to make progress in addressing these challenges, and is quick and strategic in responding to new challenges as they occur. In terms of new challenges, NEA has demonstrated its ability to effectively steward increased funding over the past three years. NEA also faces an enhanced role in President Biden’s Executive Order #14084, which includes a whole-of-government approach for advancing the arts, the humanities, and museum and library services. We will include a more thorough discussion of this and other challenges in our next semiannual report.I applaud the NEA and the OIG staff for continuing to press forward and effectively working together. This enabled staff to continue delivering the missions of the Agency and the OIG in a high quality and timely manner.The value-added work that the OIG accomplished this period is due to my staff’s commitment to excellence, continued growth, and dedicated work effort; along with the support of the NEA Chair and her staff. We will continue to work with the NEA Chair and staff to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness while helping to ensure integrity, excellence, and value in the delivery of NEA’s mission.