Federal Reports

For our final report on FY 2020 improper payment reporting, our review objective was to determine the Department’s compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA). To determine FY 2020 compliance, we reviewed the “Payment Integrity” section of the Department’s FY 2020 Agency Financial Report (AFR), accompanying materials to the AFR, and other improper payment-related documentation. We also assessed the Department’s efforts related to preventing and reducing improper payments. Based on our review, we concluded that the Department did not comply with all criteria and therefore is not compliant under PIIA. We did not identify any actions needed to further improve prevention and reduction of improper payments. However, we made recommendations related to improving the Department’s annual risk assessment process.

Our objective was to determine mailer compliance with Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) provisions and evaluate the U.S. Postal Service’s oversight of NSA Contract [redacted]. We selected this NSA based on the mailer’s fiscal year (FY) 2019 volume and revenue.

Safety, health, and attrition issues may compromise NEIC’s ability to support the EPA’s civil and criminal enforcement efforts.

Correctional and detention facilities present unique challenges in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19. When compared to the general population, a disproportionate number of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths occur in jails, prisons, and detention facilities across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that the confined nature of correctional and detention facilities, combined with their congregate environments, heightens the potential for COVID-19 to spread once introduced into a facility. Individuals typically eat, sleep, and participate in activities in close proximity to one another in these facilities, which can include custody, housing, healthcare, food service, education, recreation, and workplace components in a single physical setting. Considering the increased risk presented by these congregate settings, several Offices of Inspectors General published reports on how federal agencies handled the COVID-19 pandemic in correctional and detention environments. This insights reports summarizes the work completed by OIGs related to the steps federal agencies have taken to prevent the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their staff and the individuals housed in federal correctional and detention facilities. Common issues identified include challenges of physical layout, capacity, staffing, guidance, consistency in mitigation efforts across facility types, and safe transport of inmates and detainees.