Federal Reports

The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the key audits, evaluations, and investigative works the Office of Inspector General (OIG) completed during the 6-month period ending September 30, 2021. Over the past 6 months, OIG issued 11 products related to its audit, evaluation, and inspection work. These products addressed programs and personnel associated with the U.S. Census Bureau, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the Department itself. This report also describes OIG’s investigative activities addressing programs and personnel associated with the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Economic Development Administration, NOAA, and the Department itself. OIG encourages employees and others to continue to promote accountability by reporting concerns about fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement to the OIG hotline.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is initiating an audit of the Commission’s Compliance with Provisions of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014. Our overall objectives are to assess the (1) completeness, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of FY2021 financial and payment data submitted to the Department of the Treasury for publication on USAspending.gov; and (2) implementation and use of the data standards by the Commission. To answer our audit objective, we will assess relevant financial and payment data as well as applicable procedures, certifications, documentation, and internal controls.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is initiating an audit of the Quality of Products in Support of Meeting Government Requirements. Our overall objective is to assess the reliability, validity, and relevance of the quality control process employed by Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs) and Nonprofit Agencies (NPAs) to correct product deficiencies prior to delivery. To answer our audit objective, we will assess the effectiveness and transparency of the quality control process employed by the Commission, CNAs, and NPAs, as well as obtain an understanding of relevant internal controls.

This report presents the results of the System and Organization Controls 1 Type 2 examinationconducted in accordance with Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 18 forthe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Information Officer’s(OCIO’s) description of its data center hosting and security systems used to process user entities’transactions throughout the period October 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. The inspection covered key clinical and administrative processes that are associated with promoting quality care. This inspection focused on Leadership and Organizational Risks; COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response; Quality, Safety, and Value; Registered Nurse Credentialing; Medication Management: Remdesivir Use in VHA; Mental Health: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center Suicide Risk Screening and Evaluation; Care Coordination: Inter-facility Transfers; and High-Risk Processes: Management of Disruptive and Violent Behavior.At the time of the OIG review, the leadership team had worked together for just over two months. All positions were permanently assigned. Employee survey results identified opportunities for improvement but also reflected an environment where staff felt respected and discrimination was not tolerated. Patient survey results, while generally more positive than VHA averages, also highlighted opportunities to improve male inpatient experiences and female patients’ access to routine specialty care appointments. Executive leaders were knowledgeable about selected medical center Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning metrics but lacked understanding of community living center metrics.The OIG issued two recommendations for improvement in two areas:(1) Quality, Safety, and Value• Surgical work group attendance(2) High-Risk Processes• Prevention and management of disruptive behavior training

VA built the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and other facilities on land donated more than 100 years ago to provide housing for veterans with disabilities. While the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 allows non-VA entities to use the land, all real property leases and land-use agreements must “principally benefit” veterans and their families.In a follow-up from a 2018 audit, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that VA has made little progress in implementing the housing and service enhancement goals laid out in the draft master plan that would ultimately provide housing for 1,200 veterans. As of July 2021, VA had available only 55 of the 480 housing units—11 percent of the draft master plan’s four-year target. This occurred due to required environmental impact studies, needed infrastructure upgrades, difficulties establishing a principal developer enhanced-use lease, and challenges in raising funding.Additionally, the OIG identified seven land-use agreements that did not comply with the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016. While a prior 2018 audit identified two of these seven agreements, VA has not yet taken sufficient corrective action.The OIG recommended that VA implement a plan that brings the five new land-use agreements into compliance with the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016, the draft master plan, and other federal laws. The OIG further recommended that VA ensure its capital asset inventory accurately reflects all land-use agreements lasting six months or longer on the West Los Angeles campus.