Federal Reports

We prepared this memorandum to provide the Office of Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) information regarding the opportunity to promote a homeless waitlist preference at Multifamily Housing rental assistance properties. HUD has an opportunity to revisit the promotion and marketing of its homeless waitlist preference and the importance of partnering with a homeless service provider. Additionally, HUD can take this opportunity to make any changes to the program or adopt additional incentives to increase the likelihood of owner and agent participation. Lastly, HUD should also consider updating its public website to make it more liket that someone with limited resources and knowledge of its site can successfully identify Multifamily Housing rental assistance properties in his or her area.

Our objective was to assess the Postal Service’s management of its employees’ use of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Although the FFCRA expired on December 31, 2020, the Postal Service continued to allow liberal leave usage for employees who had a sickness related to COVID‑19. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law. This Act is similar to the FFCRA in that it created a new type of leave. Effective March 12, 2021, and continuing through September 30, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act provides employees with up to 600 hours of paid leave. The OPM issued guidance on using the new leave authority on April 29, 2021.

Sound financial management practices at VA facilities are critical to ensure funds are used appropriately, effectively, and efficiently. For that reason, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review to examine whether VA’s Maryland Health Care System appropriately managed purchases and payments for medical equipment and supplies. Fiscal oversight of purchase cards and internal controls governing the use of overtime were also reviewed.The OIG found ineffective processes, internal control weaknesses, and inadequate oversight in five areas:1. The healthcare system and the Enterprise Equipment Request (EER) portal need improved controls for approving equipment purchases.2. Healthcare system staff and the prime vendor should prepare timely and accurate planning information to ensure adequate supplies are on hand to fill orders.3. Even though no inaccurate inventory payments were identified, VA’s inventory system needs controls to ensure correct recording of supply units and costs.4. The healthcare system purchase card program requires closer monitoring to ensure purchases are authorized and supported by documentation.5. The healthcare system should strengthen its overtime payment controls to ensure supervisors verify overtime hours were completed before approving timecards for payment.VA concurred with all eight OIG recommendations. The OIG team also identified more than $5 million in questioned costs related to identified issues such as undocumented or unapproved purchases.