Open Recommendations

We recommend the Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations to enhance the existing process by conducting a documented semiannual review to ensure the daily risk assessments in the cruise ship environment remain effective. This semiannual review should include a thorough review of risk assessment methodologies, data quality, and operation effectiveness.

We recommend the National Incident Command Center Logistics Section coordinate with the Border Patrol and the DOD to identify and document appropriate functions and steps to effectively use DOD support in the “Operation Homeland Resolve Strategic Approach” and the “Departmental migration resource and response plan,” directed by former DHS Secretary Mayorkas in his October 27, 2023, memorandum.

We recommend the Chief, Border Patrol, regularly and continuously refine strategies to incorporate demographic information of aliens approaching the Southwest border in the allocation of Border Patrol facility holding units.

We recommend the National Incident Command Center Logistics Section document the communication and use of resource request tracking tools, such as WebEOC, in the “Operation Homeland Resolve Strategic Approach” and the “Departmental migration resource and response plan.”

EXIM OIG recommends the Office of Board-Authorized Finance update its policies and procedures to consider additional documentation on the status of collateral as part of the scheduled or ad hoc credit risk reviews. These updates should include information on inspections or site visits performed as well as the appropriateness of maintaining a one level improvement on the Budget Cost Level.

Establish and implement guidance for performing Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 activities through policies and procedures, including the development of current and target cybersecurity profiles which consider anticipated changes in DOT's cybersecurity posture.

Work with FAA CIO to secure a reliable funding stream for continuous vetting.

Work with FAA CIO to initiate and complete the background investigation of FAA employees in public trust positions.

Work with FAA CIO to enroll FAA employees into continuous vetting through Trusted Workforce.

Document policies and procedures for developing and maintaining a comprehensive and accurate inventory of data and the corresponding metadata for DOT's data types.

Create and maintain a comprehensive inventory of data and corresponding metadata.

Define and implement policies and procedures that utilize standard data elements and taxonomy to develop and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all software assets and associated licenses, including Executive Order-critical software.

Require and document its justification when the agency chooses to forgo its existing agency-wide grant monitoring procedures–such as site visits and risk-based reviews of source documentation.

Develop comprehensive guidance that details the analysis its grant management specialists should perform and document when conducting payment verification and approval reviews.

Conduct an assessment of the $548 million we identified as unsupported costs to ensure the FFWR grantees’ past payment requests were used for authorized purposes. Pursue recovery for any determined improper payments.

For future grant programs, establish a process to conduct a program risk assessment and continually assess risks associated with post-award monitoring activities.

Review and correct the 48 claims we identified from Population 2, as appropriate, including development in accordance with the Social Security Administration’s policies.

To prevent future errors, establish controls to ensure employees request all relevant evidence and document all required actions in its systems before denying a claim for child’s insurance benefits, when required.

Review all processing errors on cases the OIG review team identified, correct those errors to the extent possible, and report back on the results of those actions.

Evaluate the effectiveness of control activities specifically for authorization rate outliers and determine whether new or stronger controls are needed.

Establish procedures to track all non-cash and cash equivalent non-tangible items purchased with the expense purchase card and record applicable information in the eAwards system.

Conduct periodic reviews of 1) expense purchase card transactions for compliance with policy and 2) non-cash and cash equivalent items to ensure they are entered into eAwards timely.

Designate a senior executive to lead the effort to receive a clean audit opinion by granting agencywide authority to issue directives, monitor compliance, and enforce remediation priorities across all program offices.

Leverage best practices to implement a plan for using consistent, frequent communication to ensure all agency personnel are made aware of the agencywide commitment to obtain an unmodified audit opinion.

Integrate the agencywide goal of remediating the financial statements into SBA’s strategic plan and set specific, measurable targets in the agency’s annual performance plan.