Federal Reports

I am pleased to submit the Amtrak Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the United States Congress for the six months ending September 30, 2021. For the past six months, Amtrak continued its recovery after its ridership plunged—losing 97 percent at one point—at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. During this reporting period, however, ridership has significantly returned, and Amtrak appears to be at an inflection point in its 50-year history with significant plans in the offing ranging from capital projects, to acquisitions, and to proposed new routes.

The Office of Inspector General is tasked with ensuring efficiency, accountability, and integrity in the U.S. Postal Service. We also have the distinct mission of helping to maintain confidence in the mail and postal system, as well as to improve the Postal Service's bottom line. We use audits and investigations to help protect the integrity of the Postal Service. Our Semiannual Report to Congress presents a snapshot of the work we did to fulfill our mission for the six-month period ending September 30, 2021. Our dynamic report format provides readers with easy access to facts and information, as well as succinct summaries of the work by area. Links are provided to the full reports featured in this report, as well as to the appendices.

Our objective was to evaluate U.S. Postal Service’s preparedness for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 peak mailing season.Each year, increased mail volume during the Postal Service’s peak mailing season —November through January — significantly strains the Postal Service’s processing and distribution network.During the peak mailing season of FY 2021, package volume increased by about [redacted] million pieces, or 37 percent, compared to package volume during the prior peak mailing season. This increase in packages was largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Service performance for all mail classes declined by 13 percent during the FY 2021 peak season, including a nearly [redacted] percent decline in service performance for packages.

KPMG LLP audited the consolidated financial statements of the United States Department of Education, which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of net cost, and changes in net position, and combined statements of budgetary resources for the years then ended, and related notes to the consolidated financial statements.