Federal Reports

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Stone Mountain Post Office in Stone Mountain, GA (Project Number 22-124). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Stone Mountain Post Office is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Stone Mountain Post Office for our audit.

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Marietta Main Post Office (MPO) in Marietta, GA (Project Number 22- 123). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Marietta MPO is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Marietta MPO for our audit.

This interim report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of selected processes at the Atlanta Main Post Office (MPO) in Atlanta, GA (Project Number 22‑122). This audit was designed to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial control risks at Postal Service locations. The Atlanta MPO is in the Georgia District of the Southern Area. We judgmentally selected the Atlanta MPO for our audit.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection to assess the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) process in responding to a December 2020 medication recall. The recall included two medications, an antidepressant and erectile dysfunction treatment, which were incorrectly packaged together in the same bottle by the distributor.The OIG determined that the VHA medication recall process generally met VHA requirements. However, the OIG identified potential vulnerabilities related to the monitoring and reporting of medication recall adverse drug events and variations in the software used to record medication lot numbers in two VHA medical facilities named in the allegations—the VA Oklahoma City Healthcare System and VA North Texas Health Care System.The OIG found that during the medication recall, the VHA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) monitored communications and responded according to VHA policy requirements. NCPS emailed designated VHA leaders and staff providing known details, required actions, and instructions. VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management followed VHA requirements to distribute medication recall safety information throughout VHA medical center facilities and ensured notification of patients affected by the recalled medications. The OIG found that VHA medical facility staff were responsible for notifying all affected patients.Adverse drug events resulting from recalled medications are not identified specifically as a category nor required to be reported in the VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System. Therefore, the OIG could not determine if VHA monitored all adverse drug events from recalled medications.The OIG made two recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health related to the monitoring and reporting of medication recall adverse drug events and vulnerabilities in the medication recall process due to variances in VHA medical facility processes.

We audited costs claimed and grant compliance by the Nevada Department of Wildlife under grants awarded by the FWS.

An Amtrak lead service/train attendant based in New Orleans, Louisiana, resigned from her position on July 18, 2022, prior to her administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by engaging in outside employment while on a medical leave of absence. During an interview with our agents, the former employee admitted she had been employed as a full-time contract driver for a trucking company while on medical leave from the company.

The objective of our audit was to determine whether the California Department of Education (California) appropriately allocated Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations (Restart) program funds and ensured that local educational agencies (LEA) and nonpublic schools used Restart program funds for allowable and intended purposes.We found that California appropriately allocated 2018 and 2019 Restart program funds to LEAs and nonpublic schools. Although we did not identify any unallowable costs at the two LEAs whose uses of Restart program funds we reviewed, we found that California needs to improve its processes for ensuring that LEAs use Restart program funds for allowable and intended purposes. Specifically, California did not always adhere to its established procedures for reimbursement of expenditures for the 2018 Restart program, including not obtaining supporting documentation for $103,124 in expenditures for two LEAs; did not timely monitor the Restart program; and did not ensure remittance of interest earned on Restart program funds that were advanced to LEAs.