Progress Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior in Implementing Government Charge Card Recommendations

We are required to conduct periodic risk assessments of agency purchase cards and convenience checks, combined integrated card programs, and travel card programs to analyze the risks of illegal, improper, or erroneous purchases and payments. We must report to the Office of Management and Budget Director by January 31 each year on DOI’s progress in implementing our audit recommendations related to Government charge cards.We issued three reports related to internal controls over Government purchase cards and travel cards within the past 6 years, and reported five open recommendations to OMB for FY 2016. As of September 30, 2016, four of those recommendations were resolved but not implemented and one remained unresolved. During FY 2017, three of those five open recommendations were implemented and closed. As of September 30, 2017, two resolved but unimplemented recommendations remained, each from a different report.We also reported to OMB that we anticipate the issuance of one charge card-related report (Report No. 2017-ER-015) in 2018 involving a Federal initiative managed by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. The DOI is also currently in the process of selecting a new charge card contractor to replace J.P. Morgan Chase, and expects the new contractor to be selected by February 2018. After February, the DOI and new contractor will begin work to meet the required November 2018 deadline for implementation of the new charge card program.