Federal Reports

An Amtrak trackman/flagman based in Chicago, Illinois, resigned from employment on August 5, 2021, prior to his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by driving and operating company-owned vehicles without a valid driver’s license on a routine basis. We further determined that he was arrested and convicted on two occasions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and did not report the incidents to the company as policy required.

Our objective was to determine whether NIST is complying with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NIST took to implement and comply with the CARES Act, (2) challenges NIST faced during implementation, and (3) NIST’s status in the processing of applications and awarding funds under the CARES Act. Overall, we found that NIST implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act and applicable grant award policies and procedures. In addition, NIST implemented measures to mitigate challenges resulting from an increased workload and a forced transition to a virtual work environment prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and is on track to fully obligate and expend all CARES Act funds before September 30, 2021.

The Defense Department estimates that two of every three sexual assaults suffered during military service go unreported. As a result, evidence of the trauma can be difficult to subsequently produce or validate, posing a special challenge for VA when processing related veterans’ benefit claims for posttraumatic stress disorder.In response, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has established special procedures to help veterans support their claims when they do not have the evidence or documentation usually required. However, in an August 2018 report, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that about half of the military sexual trauma claims denied between April 1 and September 30, 2017, were not properly processed under VBA procedures, resulting in premature denial. These premature denials could have resulted in veterans not receiving the benefits they deserved. The OIG made six recommendations intended to help VBA review and correct all prematurely denied claims since October 1, 2016, and to better process them in the future.This report examined whether VBA effectively implemented the OIG’s 2018 recommendations and found that processors did not always follow the updated policies and procedures. VBA leaders did not effectively implement the OIG’s recommendations and did not ensure adequate governance over military sexual trauma claims processing. The OIG concluded that VBA was not properly implementing the recommended changes.The OIG recommended the acting under secretary for benefits should establish a formal procedure to correct all claims processing errors identified by the OIG. The OIG also recommended the acting under secretary fix continuing military sexual trauma claims processing deficiencies and strengthen controls to effectively implement and promote compliance with the OIG’s 2018 recommendations. Lastly, the acting under secretary should ensure VBA strengthen communication, oversight, and accountability for the processing of military sexual trauma claims.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of select activities and challenges of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Coordinators and Veterans Integrated Service Network Points of Contact in response to a request from Congressman Chris Pappas, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force. The OIG also reviewed the culture of safety for patients requesting MST-related care.Sexual trauma experienced while serving in the military affects both women and men with potentially serious and long-term consequences. Psychological trauma, such as MST, also increases risk of physical health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. The Veterans Health Administration requires that each facility has a designated MST Coordinator with at least 20 percent of their time dedicated to protected administrative time.The OIG conducted a national survey and interviews to evaluate MST Coordinators duties and perceived challenges. Approximately 80 percent of the respondents reported having been assigned at least 20 percent or more of protected time. Thirty-nine percent reported inadequate resources to fulfill MST Coordinator administrative responsibilities. Based on analysis of survey results and interview information, the OIG found that insufficient protected administrative time, role demands, insufficient support staff, and inadequate funding and outreach materials challenged MST Coordinators’ ability to fulfill role responsibilities.Additionally, the OIG found that MST Coordinators who reported more dedicated time than other MST Coordinators did not necessarily serve at facilities with higher numbers of patients in MST related care.The OIG made one recommendation to the Under Secretary for Health to evaluate the sufficiency of current guidance and operational status regarding protected administrative time, administrative staff support, and funding for outreach, education, and special project resources, with consideration of MST Coordinators’ responsibilities, and take action as warranted.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) partially complied with the Act by establishing operational processes for routine activities within its Explosives Detection Canine Team (EDCT) program for surface transportation. Specifically, TSA has a national training program for canines and handlers, uses canine assets to meet urgent security needs, and monitors and tracks canine assets. However, TSA did not comply with the Act’s requirements to evaluate the entire EDCT program for alignment with its risk-based security strategy or develop a unified deployment strategy for its EDCTs for surface transportation. We recommended that TSA coordinate with its law enforcement agency partners to conduct an evaluation of the EDCT program and develop an agency-wide deployment strategy for surface transportation consistent with TSA's Surface Transportation Risk-Based Security Strategy. TSA concurred with both recommendations.

The Office of the Inspector General conducted a review of the Generation Services, Field Services organization to identify factors that could impact Field Services' organizational effectiveness. During the course of our evaluation, we identified many positive behaviors for engagement; however, we also identified needed improvements in behaviors in relation to first-line supervisors in three departments. We also identified risks to business operations, including experience, resource needs, such as funding, and staffing, and concerns related to reorganization efforts involving engineering. In addition, business partners discussed concerns, including areas for improvement related to support and collaboration.