Increasing Transparency into COVID-19 Spending

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Date Issued

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Submitting OIG

Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Other Participating OIGs

Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Multiple Agencies

Report Number

PRAC-2022-01

Report Description

The objective of this review was to identify specific gaps in transparency in award data for federal assistance spending in response to COVID-19. We looked at 51,000 awards worth $347 billion that supported the pandemic response (as of June 15, 2021). The report includes three findings, including we found more than 15,400 awards worth $33 billion with meaningless descriptions that make it difficult to know how COVID-19 relief money was used. The report includes five recommendations to help improve the transparency into COVID-19 relief spending.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Special Projects

Pandemic

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Additional Details

https://www.pandemicoversight.gov/oversight/our-publications-reports/dead-ends-…

Open Recommendations

This report has 3 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
PRAC-03	No	$0	$0
OMB should engage with Congress to consider legislating amendments to extend independent oversight of USAspending.gov data submissions, including developing new requirements in consultation with CIGIE and the PRAC for the review of agency award descriptions.
PRAC-04	No	$0	$0
OMB should conduct a feasibility study, in coordination with relevant federal and non-federal stakeholders, as to how to better track and report subrecipient funding.
PRAC-05	No	$0	$0
OMB should engage with Congress to consider legislating amendments to extend independent oversight of USAspending.gov data submissions, including developing new requirements in consultation with the CIGIE and the PRAC for the review of subrecipient reporting.