Federal Reports

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act program.Our audit objective was to determine what challenges grantees faced in using program funds for activities that prepare for, prevent, or respond to the coronavirus and its impact. We used a survey questionnaire to gather feedback and insight directly from 1,047 program grantees. As of July 30, 2022, grantees had drawn more than $1.79 billion, or 36 percent, of the $4.99 billion in program funds. We performed this audit to provide HUD, the public, and Congress with insight into the challenges that impacted the grantees in using program funds.Grantees responding to our survey questionnaire identified many challenges they were facing in using program funds for activities that prepare for, prevent, or respond to the coronavirus and its impact. Specifically, grantees reported facing challenges in (1) managing multiple funding sources, (2) spending program funds within required timeframes, and (3) meeting program objectives and requirements.Grantees attributed these conditions to capacity issues, HUD’s program rules and regulations, and other competing CARES Act application and expenditure deadlines. As a result, program funds are at risk of being recaptured if not spent by the designated deadlines to provide help to those impacted by the pandemic or for activities that prepare for, prevent, or respond to the coronavirus.We recommend that the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development consider looking into (1) extending the spending deadline and (2) streamlining program requirements.

ERS’ Data Product Review Council (DRPC) reviews are designed to evaluate ERS data products’ adherence to six Office of Management and Budget quality standards and attributes; however, ERS has not performed a DPRC review since July 2019.

An Amtrak Trackman based in New York was terminated on September 20, 2022, after his disciplinary hearing for violating company policies. The former employee posted inappropriate and offensive images—including one depicting what appeared to be illicit drugs—as well as an internal company document, on his public Facebook account, which also identified him as an Amtrak employee.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a national review of the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) to evaluate implementation status and identify perceived barriers to compliance. The OIG conducted a national survey of IPVAP coordinators, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) lead coordinators, and VISN champions and interviewed select IPVAP coordinators and VISN champions. The OIG found over half of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities did not have the required IPVAP protocol, which may contribute to leader and staff confusion and lack of knowledge about IPVAP roles, responsibilities, process, and procedures. The IPVAP coordinator may be a collateral duty, and 82 percent reported over half of their time was dedicated to the role. The IPVAP coordinators serving the facility with the most patients and the least patients reported dedicated time between zero and 25 percent. Although training is required, the majority of IPVAP coordinators reported providing training at fewer than half of new employee orientation sessions and to fewer than half of intimate partner violence (IPV) screeners. Fourteen percent of IPVAP coordinators reported that their facilities did not implement routine IPV screening, and IPVAP coordinators described challenges in IPV screening without a clinical reminder or mandatory status. Although IPVAP coordinators are responsible for program evaluation, the OIG found that VHA did not establish standardized program evaluation methods or measures. VISN champions identified the need for clearer role expectations, mandatory screening completion, and a designated VISN coordinator. About half of VISN lead coordinators reported dissatisfaction with support from the VISN champion. The OIG made seven recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health related to medical center IPVAP protocols, IPVAP coordinators’ dedicated time and population needs, administrative staff support, IPV staff training, IPV screening requirements, program evaluation processes, and VISN IPVAP champion and lead coordinator roles and oversight functions.