Federal Reports

Background

The U.S. Postal Service manages over 31,000 facilities nationwide, both owned and leased. Regular maintenance is critical to keeping these spaces safe and operations efficient. The Postal Service spent about $5.5 billion on facility repairs between 2014 and 2024. However, in 2024, it reported a growing backlog of maintenance issues totaling approximately $20 billion.

What We Did

Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Postal Service’s process to identify, manage, and address its deferred maintenance. We analyzed maintenance calls and repair data and conducted site visits.

What We Found

The Postal Service did not consistently define and manage deferred maintenance and lacked accurate cost estimates to effectively prioritize resources. This occurred because it did not establish a common framework to track all deferred maintenance or ensure data integrity. As a result, the Postal Service projected $20 billion in deferred maintenance using limited definitions and data. Conversely, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) created a more granular estimate of $13 billion using available data consisting of reported issues and current cost approximations — a baseline example for the Postal Service as it improves its data. We also identified $1.1 million in paid invoices where work was not completed. 

We additionally identified unreported maintenance issues during site visits and from required assessments. This occurred because staff did not understand the importance of their role in reporting facility issues, and the Postal Service did not sufficiently oversee its assessment program. As a result, maintenance issues went undetected, limiting visibility into facility conditions. Without a comprehensive understanding of the total scope of deferred maintenance, the Postal Service cannot accurately estimate future maintenance funding needs. Promoting a culture of timely reporting and resolution of maintenance needs can help prevent minor problems from escalating.

An Amtrak machinist based in Sunrise, Florida, was terminated from employment on November 26, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by failing to report his conviction for the fraudulent receipt of pandemic related funds. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.

This report details the Office of Inspector General's Fall 2025 - Semiannual Report to Congress. The following topics are included:

• Overview of the SBA and the OIG
• Summary of OIG Oversight Work
• Small Business Access to Capital
• Disaster Assistance Program
• Contracting and Counseling Programs
• Agency Management
• Other Significant OIG Activities
• OIG Hotline
• Organizational Overview
• Appendices

Why We Did This Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this evaluation to determine whether the EPA’s institutional controls related to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-funded remedial activities at the Cornell Dubilier Electronics Inc. Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey, will minimize human exposure to site contaminants.

Summary of Findings

The fish advisory signs, an informational device used at the Cornell Dubilier Electronics Inc., or CDE, Superfund site, do not align with the EPA’s guidance for fish consumption advisories and do not reflect the requirements documented in the record of decision for a portion of the site known as Operable Unit 4. Also, the EPA’s community engagement strategy for the CDE Superfund site does not align with the EPA’s statement that the strategy is based on regulation and Agency guidance. Incomplete, unavailable, and inaccurate information about the CDE Superfund site compromises the effectiveness of risk communication during the site’s $170 million Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-funded remediation and may result in increased human health risks from exposure to site contaminants.

The U.S. Postal Service operates over 34,000 properties across the United States and its territories, ranging in size and functionality. Sometimes these properties experience operational changes or shifts in mail volume that may result in excess or underutilized space. Effectively managing these spaces could lead to more productive and cost-effective facility usage and operations.