Federal Reports

This report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of Efficiency of Operations at the Columbus Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in Columbus, OH (Project Number 22-041). We conducted this audit to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on operational risks at this P&DC. We judgmentally selected the Columbus P&DC based on a review of overtime, penalty overtime, cancelled trips, late trips, extra trips by Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) and Highway Contract Route (HCR) drivers, and overall scanning performance. The Columbus P&DC is in the Lakeshores Division and processes letters, flats, and parcels; and it services multiple 3-digit ZIP Codes in urban and rural communities.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Analytics and Cybercrime Program provides investigative, forensic, and analytical support to field divisions and headquarters. A core component of this program is the Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP), established in 2018 to provide analytics support for online investigations. Analysts respond to requests for assistance from postal inspectors and proactively gather intelligence using cryptocurrency analysis, open-source intelligence, and social media analysis. In April 2021, iCOP was renamed the Analytics Team. This report responds to a request from the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform to evaluate the Postal Inspection Service’s online analytical support activities, including its statutory authority and processes for these activities, and any related contracts. We reviewed 434 online analytical support requests from a statistical sample of 160 cases and 70 reports produced by iCOP to assess whether these activities were authorized. We also reviewed policies, procedures, and contracts associated with iCOP and the Analytics Team.

We present the status of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation’s assets and official records.

The Office of the Inspector General conducted an evaluation to determine if the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was effectively managing acquisitions and disposals of real property. We determined TVA effectively managed the real property acquisitions and disposals for the sample of transactions we reviewed. Specifically, we determined sampled acquisition and disposal decisions were generally supported by the financial, environmental, and title reviews conducted as part of TVA’s real property transaction process; however, we identified noncompliance with some parts of the standard programs and processes and user guides. We also identified opportunities for improvement related to information provided to the TVA Board of Directors and clarification within the standard programs and processes and user guides. Additionally, we identified issues related to TVA’s survey process.