Federal Reports

Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) was paying correct benefits to Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance child beneficiaries entitled under more than one parent's record.

I. PREDICATIONThe United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (OIG), received a Congressional request dated August 7, 2020, regarding Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (DeJoy). Members of Congress requested the OIG examine, in part, DeJoy's compliance with ethics requirements. Specifically, the letter asked, "[c]onsidering that 'DeJoy and his wife, ... who is [President Trump's] nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, own $30.1 million to $75.3 million in assets in Postal Service competitors or contractors, like UPS and the trucking company J.B. Hunt,' has DeJoy met all ethics requirements regarding disclosure, divestment, and recusal from decisions in which he may have a conflict?" (Exhibit 1 ).II. SYNOPSISThe investigation revealed DeJoy met all applicable ethics requirements related to disclosure, recusal, and divestment upon entering the position of Postmaster General. The Special Inquiries Division (SID) reviewed documentation obtained from the Postal Service, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and DeJoy's investment firms. SID additionally conducted interviews with Postal Service ethics officials, other Postal Service employees, and with staff from DeJoy's investment firms. SID also analyzed federal ethics regulations in consultation with the OIG's Office of General Counsel.

Under the home health prospective payment system (PPS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pays home health agencies (HHAs) a standardized payment for each 60-day episode of care that a beneficiary receives. The PPS payment covers intermittent skilled nursing and home health aide visits, therapy (physical, occupational, and speech-language pathology), medical social services, and medical supplies. Our prior audits of home health services identified significant overpayments to HHAs. These overpayments were largely the result of HHAs improperly billing for services to beneficiaries who were not confined to the home (homebound) or were not in need of skilled services.

An Amtrak Customer Service Representative in Los Angeles, California, received an 18-day suspension on December 7, 2020, and another resigned from the company on December 24, 2020, for violating company policy. Our investigation found that the employees participated in the manual pricing of an Amtrak fare for a family member without authorization. We found that the employees wrongfully extended substantially discounted travel to a family member of one of the employees, causing loss of revenue to the company.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 requires the Inspector General to prepare semiannual reports summarizing the activities of the Office of Inspector General for the preceding six-month periods. The semiannual reports are intended to keep the Secretary and the Congress fully informed of significant findings, progress the Agency has made and recommendations for improvement.

The Office of Inspector General issued this management alert to the Commission to help ensure a stronger future for the AbilityOne program. We synthesized the content of reports on the AbilityOne Commission and Programs using over 100 data points. The reports we analyzed provide specific recommendations that would enhance efficiency and confidence in the Agency, reduce identified deficiencies, and foster program growth. The reports show a consistent failure by Commission senior staff to resolve persistent problems in the management and administration of the Program. Action is needed to address the ineffective stewardship by senior staff. Establishing a sound organizational structure will enable the AbilityOne Program to achieve its potential.

The Postal Service uses trailers, including leased trailers, to transport mail products between plants, major mailers, and businesses. Routine evaluation of the trailer fleet is required to monitor daily trailer utilization and Postal Service policy requires the return or relocation of leased trailers not consistently used for periods of 10 days or more in a month. Our objective was to assess the management of the U.S. Postal Service’s leased trailers.