Federal Reports

An Amtrak Foreman based in Springfield, Massachusetts, violated company policies by leaving company property on five occasions without authorization during paid shifts in June through July 2023. On these occasions, he left his subordinates without supervision, and he did so even after receiving specific directives to the contrary from his supervisor and another foreman. During his interview with OIG agents, the employee admitted to his activities. We also found that he did not safeguard his SmartID card and, instead, stored it in an unlocked locker at work after being reminded of the Smart ID policy requirements in an email from his supervisor. On September 5, 2023, the foreman resigned in lieu of his disciplinary hearing and is ineligible for rehire.

Our objective was to evaluate the Postal Service’s process for estimating and monitoring the return on investment for capital projects. To accomplish our objective, we reviewed the lifecycle—including evaluation, approval, management, and post-deployment monitoring—for selected capital projects.

For our audit of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Polar Weather Satellite program, our objective was to assess the program's execution of selected development activities. To satisfy our objective, we reviewed aspects of the program's environmental testing and pre-launch readiness efforts for JPSS-2, the second satellite in the Joint Polar Satellite Series. Generally, the program was successful in the testing and readiness efforts we reviewed for JPSS-2. However, we found the program should should I. take additional steps to ensure instruments on the next JPSS satellites, JPSS-3 and JPSS-4, are protected from contamination and tested as they will fly; II. improve its lessons-learned process so it and other programs can learn from its experiences; and III. improve its requirements verification process before JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 verification.efforts begin.

NASA established this program nearly 30 years ago to spur new science and solutions for meeting the challenges of climate change. While the program provides opportunities to advance Earth science research, a sharper focus on solutions that benefit society would serve an even greater good.