Federal Reports

The report summarizes the FTC OIG’s activities and accomplishments during the second half of the FY 2018 reporting period.

The TVA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) meets a legal requirement to report to Congress on the office's results twice a year through its Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR). In this semiannual period, the TVA OIG audit, evaluation and investigative work identified approximately $64 million in funds TVA could put to better use, questioned costs, and recoveries and savings.

During the semiannual reporting period, we continued our efforts to increase the productivity and value of OIG work through strategic planning and partnering efforts with NEA leadership and staff. We received and addressed 18 hotline complaints, primarily enabling us to help citizens avoid scams by individuals fraudulently representing themselves as NEA employees. Furthermore, we issued audit reports with $777,351 in questioned cost and 23 recommendations to improve awards management. Through our audit follow-up process, we continuously collaborate with NEA managers to clear open recommendations to improve stewardship of NEA funds by awardees.Finally, as required by the Consolidated Reports Act of 2000 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-136, Financial Reporting Requirements, we worked with NEA officials to prepare a list of management challenges that NEA faces. The challenge areas include financial management, human capital, information technology, administrative services, and awardee accountability. A summary of the challenges and the continuous improvement and plans the NEA has made to address the challenges are included in this report.

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs, conducted this audit to assess EAC's compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and related information security policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines for fiscal year 2018.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. The review covered key clinical and administrative processes associated with promoting quality care—Leadership and Organizational Risks; Quality, Safety, and Value; Credentialing and Privileging; Environment of Care; Medication Management: Controlled Substances (CS) Inspection Program; Mental Health: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Care; Long-term Care: Geriatric Evaluations; Women’s Health: Mammography Results and Follow-up; and High-risk Processes: Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections. The Facility had relatively stable executive leadership and active engagement with employees as evidenced by satisfaction scores. However, opportunities exist to improve outpatient experiences. Additionally, the OIG identified the presence of organizational risk factors with Patient Safety Indicator data and delays in patients receiving sleep apnea equipment, which may contribute to future issues of noncompliance and/or lapses in patient safety unless corrective processes are implemented and continuously monitored. The OIG noted findings in five of the clinical operations reviewed and issued 18 recommendations that are attributable to the Director, Chief of Staff, Associate Director for Patient Care Services, Associate Director, Assistant Director–Austin, and Assistant Director–Waco. The identified areas with deficiencies are: (1) Credentialing and Privileging • Focused and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation processes (2) Environment of Care • Personal protective equipment accessibility • Environmental cleanliness • Medical equipment availability • Panic alarm testing and follow-up • Annual Emergency Operations Plan reviews (3) Medication Management: CS Inspection Program • Monthly and quarterly reports • CS inspectors’ appointments • Monthly area inspections • Verification of drugs held for destruction and hard copy prescriptions • Prescription pad accountability (4) Women’s Health: Mammography Results and Follow-up • Communication of results to patients (5) High-risk Processes: Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections • Staff education

During the financial statement audit, OIG’s contracted independent public accountant, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, assessed PBGC’s information security infrastructure for technical weaknesses in PBGC’s computer systems that may allow employees or outsiders to cause harm to, and/or impact, PBGC’s business processes and information. Current year testing found weaknesses in the areas of configuration management, data protection and privacy, and identity and access management. This report includes three new recommendations and five repeat recommendations. The Office of Inspector General has determined that this report is for official use only. The report detailing the vulnerability assessment has been redacted in its entirety because it contains privileged and confidential information.