Federal Reports

This review determined that the Peace Corps complied with the Payment Integrity Information Act for FY 2025. The agency provided payment integrity information through the Office of Management and Budget’s FY 2025 annual data call; published its improper payment information in the Agency Financial Report for FY 2025; and posted that report on the Peace Corps’ website.

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

Why We Did This Report

The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires each inspector general to prepare an annual statement summarizing what the inspector general considers to be “the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency” and to briefly assess the agency’s progress in addressing those challenges. To that end, we have prepared this statement, which identifies what we consider to be the six most serious management and performance challenges facing the EPA in fiscal year 2026. These challenges represent the Agency’s vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, as well as the most significant barriers to the EPA accomplishing its mission.

Summary of Findings

We identified six top management challenges for the EPA: 

• Managing contracts, grants, and associated data systems.
• Meeting statutory requirements for ensuring the safe use of chemicals.
• Managing information technology modernization.
• Maintaining mission efficiency and effectiveness during organizational change.
• Managing cooperative federalism and state oversight.
• Preparing for and responding to natural and manmade disasters.

Background

The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers. One of the ways it accomplishes its mission is by providing technological support and risk management tools as well as strategy services designed to mitigate risk and prevent criminal attacks.

What We Did

Our objective was to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Postal Service’s and the Postal Inspection Service's oversight of the Vulnerability Risk Assessment Tool (VRAT) process and resolution of identified deficiencies. The VRAT is a risk-based model to identify security deficiencies at postal facilities. For this audit, we judgmentally selected samples of three Postal Inspection Service divisions and 12 Postal Service facilities nationwide for review based on VRAT survey and deficiency data. Additionally, we reviewed VRAT processes, procedures, training, and applicable guidance.

What We Found

The Postal Inspection Service did not effectively oversee the VRAT process. Many surveys were not started or incomplete, deficiencies remained unresolved, and the status for resolved deficiencies was not reported in the system. Additionally, while facility security training included a VRAT component, the Postal Inspection Service and Postal Service did not ensure that all facility management received this training prior to performing VRAT surveys. Lastly, there were instances where personnel from both the Postal Inspection Service and Postal Service duplicated efforts by completing separate VRAT surveys in the same fiscal year at Tier 1 (most critical) and Tier 2 (critical) facilities.

Recommendations and Management Comments

We made six recommendations to strengthen VRAT oversight by improving monitoring and follow-up processes, policies and procedures, and reporting and resolution practices; bolstering facility security training and guidance; and reducing the redundancy of VRAT surveys. Postal Service management agreed with all six recommendations. Management’s comments and our evaluation are at the end of each finding and recommendation.

Why We Did This Report

The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires each inspector general to prepare an annual statement summarizing what the inspector general considers to be “the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency” and to briefly assess the agency’s progress in addressing those challenges. 

Summary of Findings

For fiscal year 2026, we identified two management challenges facing the CSB. We consider these to be the CSB’s greatest vulnerabilities to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement and the most significant barriers to accomplishing the CSB’s mission:

1. Operating effectively without a full board
2. Improving information security