Federal Reports

This report responds to a request from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to review measures the U.S. Postal Service has implemented regarding opioid safety preparedness. Specifically, the congressional inquiry focused on Postal Service procedures, training, and communications related to employee exposure risks to synthetic opioids and opioid overdose medication. Our objective was to assess measures the Postal Service has implemented to prepare its workforce for the risks posed by shipments of synthetic opioids.

Florence Crittenton Services of Orange County, Inc. (Crittenton), located in Fullerton, California, met most of the applicable safety standards for the care and release of children in its custody. However, Crittenton released some children to sponsors without conducting all required background checks, and some Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) case files were missing documentation to verify that Crittenton met certain safety standards. In addition, the numbers of released children listed in Crittenton’s quarterly performance progress reports were not readily verifiable for accuracy.

An Amtrak Foreman was terminated from employment on June 18, 2018, after a hearing officer found that he violated the company’s Standards of Excellence by failing to notify the company of a drug or alcohol-related conviction for engaging in the distribution of, possession with intent to distribute, or importation of a controlled substance.

The OIG investigated allegations that a contractor was improperly involved in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) construction project and had a conflict of interest during multiple contract awards related to that project. We also investigated allegations that a BLM supervisor circumvented contracting rules to steer awards to the contractor.We confirmed the allegations against both the contractor and the BLM supervisor. We found that the contractor improperly contributed to the statements of work for contracts during the design phase of the project and influenced the award of those contracts. He then subcontracted with the companies that received the awards.We found that the BLM supervisor ignored guidance from BLM contracting personnel to compete the design phase of the construction and allowed the contractor to influence awards of contracts. When contracting personnel objected, the supervisor paid the contractor with a Government purchase card to circumvent controls.The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada declined prosecution of this matter and the BLM supervisor has left the Department.

In a previous audit, Performance Audit of USCP Controls over Proximity Cards, Report Number OIG-2015-05, dated April 2015, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found the United States Capitol Police (USCP or the Department) did not have effective controls over the process for proximity (prox) cards.  OIG conducted a follow-up on the Department's implementation of recommendations contained within Report Number OIG-20 I 5-05.  The objectives of this follow-up were to confirm that the Department took the appropriate corrective actions and that controls the Department implemented were operating efficiently and effectively.  Our scope included existing controls over prox cards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 through February 28, 2018, related to implementation of recommendations outlined in our previous report.

In accordance with our Annual Performance Plan Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, Report Number OIG-2018-01, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) assessed the United States Capitol Police (USCP or the Department) workforce diversity. Our objectives were (1) determine if the Department properly designed a diversity program that would yield desired results, (2) evaluate the accuracy and completeness of complaints and discrimination data reported to stakeholders, and (3) assess the status of recommendations made in the previous diversity audit.  Our scope included program policies in effect as of January 2, 2018, and data collected during the five previous years, calendar years 2012 through 2017.