Federal Reports

On April 26, 2024, the Office of Inspector General received a complaint alleging that Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) management at the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) approved the transport of a supplemental pilot from Tennessee to RSL-Joint Base Andrews (RSL-Andrews) using a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)-owned aircraft. Additionally, during a subsequent discussion, the complainant also alleged that MSTS did not list the supplemental pilot on the flight manifest.

We initiated this inspection to determine the facts and circumstances regarding the alleged flight concerns at the RSL.

We substantiated the allegation that MSTS management approved the transport of a supplemental pilot from Tennessee to RSL-Andrews using an NNSA-owned aircraft. An NNSA Nevada Field Office official verbally authorized the flight to address a pilot availability issue. However, we questioned whether the supplemental pilot’s role on the flight was needed. In addition, there were differences in understanding by MSTS aviation personnel about how readiness (availability of assets to rapidly respond to incidents) was tracked in the system. Contributing factors for the issues we identified included the lack of: (1) a documented policy on readiness scores and aircraft availability requirements; (2) documented communication between the Nevada Field Office and MSTS officials; and (3) guidance pertaining to NNSA public aircraft operations.

We also substantiated the allegation that the supplemental pilot was not added to the flight manifest. This occurred because of the lack of a formal written RSL policy to verify personnel on flights.

Improving transparency and access to information helps ensure Government aircraft are used solely for official purposes. Accurate flight manifests are also critical for timely responses in aviation emergencies.  

We have made five recommendations that, if fully implemented, should help ensure that NNSA-owned aircraft are used for Government purposes and that manifest information is accurate.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) did not properly design, implement, comply with, or manage requirements of the Cybersecurity Retention Incentive (Cyber Incentive) program, which paid more than $138 million between fiscal years 2020 through 2024.  These deficiencies resulted in CISA not using Federal funds efficiently or effectively to retain mission-critical cybersecurity employees.   • CISA did not narrowly target mission-critical cybersecurity    employees with unusually high or unique qualifications.   Ineligible employees received incentive payments, which  ranged from approximately $21,000 to $25,000 annually.  • CISA’s Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) did not maintain records of Cyber Incentive recipients and  corresponding payments. • CISA did not comply with Federal regulations and multiple  program requirements, resulting in $1.41 million in unallowed back payments to 348 Cyber Incentive recipients,  which we identified as questioned costs.  

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Healthcare Facility Inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the care provided at the VA Alexandria Healthcare System in Pineville, Louisiana. 

This evaluation focused on five key content domains:
     •    Culture
     •    Environment of care
     •    Patient safety
     •    Primary care
     •    Veteran-centered safety net

The OIG issued one recommendation for VA to correct an identified deficiency in one domain:
   1.    Patient safety
     •    Providers communicate test results to patients in a timely manner

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Healthcare Facility Inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the care provided at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. 

This evaluation focused on five key content domains:
     •    Culture
     •    Environment of care
     •    Patient safety
     •    Primary care
     •    Veteran-centered safety net

The OIG issued nine recommendations for VA to correct identified deficiencies in two domains:
   1.    Environment of care
     •    Signs and maps
     •    Emergency generator and fire door inspection and testing
     •    Environment of care committee meetings
     •    Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program area cleanliness
     •    Hands-free sanitizer dispensers
     •    Guidance for shelter-in-place supplies
   2.    Patient safety
     •    Service-level workflows for the communication of test results
     •    Process to monitor the communication of test results
     •    Improvement actions from root cause analyses

This report presents the results of our audit of service and operational performance at previously audited mail processing facilities.

Background

The U.S. Postal Service needs effective and productive operations to fulfill its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and affordable mail service. It has a vast transportation network that moves mail and equipment between approximately 315 mail processing facilities. During fiscal years 2023 and 2024, we audited 24 mail processing facilities, assessing transportation and processing operational efficiency.

What We Did

Our objective was to evaluate trends in service and operational performance at previously audited mail processing facilities to determine potential areas for improvement. For this audit, we interviewed regional and mail processing facility management, analyzed pertinent Postal Service system data for 24 previously audited mail processing facilities, and revisited six of these facilities.

What We Found

We identified persistent issues in the areas of delayed mail reporting, late and canceled outbound trips, and safety and security policies. In addition, though scanning compliance improved at some facilities, scanning scores were still generally below the goal. We also found that service performance for First‑Class Mail stayed relatively consistent, but was below target, while service for Priority Mail and Ground Advantage declined. While the lack of oversight by management continues to contribute to most of the issues found, the Postal Service has opportunities to improve information accuracy and enforcement of existing policy. Specifically, facilities continued to have inaccurate reporting of delayed mail in the Mail Condition Visualization system due to a lack of training and out-of-date policy. We found incomplete scanning load and unload data was due to a lack of scanner availability and accountability. Many of these facilities continue to have high late and canceled outbound trip percentages caused by inconsistent reviews of transportation schedules. Finally, we found that facilities did not consistently follow mail safety and security policies and procedures.