Open Recommendations

We recommend the FEMA Administrator, in coordination with DHS and OMB, take action to issue final regulations implementing the State-Administered Direct Housing Grant Program authorized by Section 1211(a) of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018.

We recommend the FEMA Administrator provide quarterly briefings, consistent with House Report 117-87, to congressional Appropriations Committees on the status of the component’s DRRA implementation efforts, including the State-Administered Direct Housing Grant Program.

We recommend the FEMA Administrator continue to evaluate challenges associated with implementing the State-Administered Direct Housing Grant Program, and then develop and implement new authorities or program changes to address those challenges.

As DOJ policy does not address what information Department personnel may include in a statement that is determined to be necessary to reassure the public that the appropriate law enforcement agency is investigating a matter or to protect public safety, we recommend that the Department revise this policy to require that the information contained in a statement released pursuant to JM 1-7.400(C) be reasonably necessary either to reassure the public that the appropriate law enforcement agency is investigating a matter or to protect public safety.

We recommend that the Department make clear whether the Justice Manual's Confidentiality and Media Contacts Policy, Justice Manual 1-7.000, applies to the Attorney General.

We recommend that the Department clarify its policies to address whether any of the provisions of 28 C.F.R. 50.2 remain Department policy in light of the existence of the Confidentiality and Media Contacts Policy contained in the Justice Manual.

If 28 C.F.R. 50.2(b)(9) remains valid Department policy, we recommend that the Department require that requests to the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General for approval to release information otherwise prohibited from disclosure and any approval to release such information pursuant to 50.2(b)(9) be documented.

We recommend that the Department consider revising its White House communications policy to clarify what information can be disclosed to the White House in situations where the policy permits communication about a contemplated or pending civil or criminal investigation.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

We recommend Cybersecurity and Privacy Operations Center management update existing policies and procedures to include repercussions when an individual does not complete their required role-based security training in the designed 45-day time frame.

We recommend the Chief Information Officer perform a cybersecurity resource assessment to identify any technology, people, or tool gaps.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System Director makes certain that investigation and closure of events placed into the Joint Patient Safety Reporting system are completed per the Veterans Health Administrations established time frame, and monitors compliance.

Conduct in-depth evaluations to monitor the performance of EPA regional offices' oversight of delegated agencies' implementation of the EPA's Clean Air Act Stationary Source Compliance Monitoring Strategy.

In coordination with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, determine a complete and accurate list of SM-80 sources in Texas and ensure that each Clean Air Act Stationary Source Compliance Monitoring Strategy plan includes a list of SM-80s along with an expected inspection date. This corrective action should be completed by August 2025.

In coordination with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, confirm that California's South Coast Air Quality Management District's list of SM-80 sources is complete and accurate and ensure that the district reports SM-80 data in the EPA's data systems by August 2025.

Collect and review California's South Coast Air Quality Management District's Clean Air Act Stationary Source Compliance Monitoring Strategy plan by October 2026 and biennially thereafter and ensure that each plan includes a list of SM-80 sources along with an expected inspection date.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director conducts focused clinical care reviews in accordance with Veterans Health Administration requirements, and monitors for compliance.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director ensures that summary suspensions are conducted in accordance with Veterans Health Administration policy, and monitors for compliance.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director confirms that proposed reduction or revocation of privileges complies with Veterans Health Administration policies and procedures, and monitors for compliance.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director complies with Veterans Health Administration requirements when reporting licensed independent practitioners to state licensing boards.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director completes a review of Medical Executive Committee meeting minutes and ensures recommendations made for focused professional practice evaluations for cause for licensed independent practitioners have been completed according to Veterans Health Administration requirements.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director ensures that, when providers are transitioned from an initial focused professional practice evaluation to an ongoing professional practice evaluation, the transition is reported and documented as required by Veterans Health Administration policy, and monitors for compliance.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director ensures that ongoing professional practice evaluations include documentation of all conclusionary outcomes required by Veterans Health Administration policy.

The Hampton VA Medical Center Director completes a review of Medical Executive Committee meeting minutes and ensures recommendations made for focused professional practice evaluations for cause for licensed independent practitioners have been completed according to Veterans Health Administration requirements.

Implement an action plan to address needs identified in the independent workplace survey.

Provide training to all AGC-500 attorneys on the capabilities and use of the modified Case Document Management System.

Develop a management control that ensures that the attorneys use the Case Document Management System to input, track, and monitor their work, including all case-related communications.

We recommend that FWS require the Department to develop controls with the State Procurement Office to ensure the proceeds from the sale of license revenue-funded or grant-funded equipment are returned to the Department.

We recommend that FWS require the Department to suspend the sale of equipment until Recommendations 1 and 2 have been implemented.

Update guidance mandating use of an effective date builder for rating veterans service representatives to consider earlier effective dates when granting entitlement to individual unemployability.

Establish additional system controls to ensure rating veterans service representatives address competency when individual unemployability has been awarded based solely on a mental condition.

Establish additional system controls to ensure rating veterans service representatives address competency when individual unemployability has been awarded based solely on a mental condition.

Require the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) to perform a formal evaluation of the personnel and financial resources required to meet anticipated future demand for Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) services and provide the results to FBI executive leadership. In response to this evaluation, FBI executive leadership should determine whether to allocate the personnel and financial resources, and/or potentially leverage other similar programs and activities within the FBI, necessary to meet ViCAP's anticipated needs.

Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for ViCAP that accounts for both the resources available to ViCAP and also the anticipated short-term and long-term changes in demand for ViCAP's services. This plan should specifically identify necessary improvements to ViCAP's information technology and quality control functions.

Using the strategic plan developed in response to Recommendation 2, establish and maintain comprehensive and meaningful performance metrics, including a mechanism for capturing and evaluating customer feedback, program reach, and active participation, to better assess the value and effectiveness of ViCAP.

Develop a cost-benefit analysis to assess whether FAA should reconsider the decision to remove the Data Comm requirement for a two-way interface between TFDM and TDLS.

Evaluate and resolve human factors issues within TFDM to improve how the system provides critical flight information to controllers.

Perform an assessment to determine if more scenario-based exercises are needed to improve future training and if so, implement revised TFDM training.

Review El Paso sector staffing levels, determine staffing requirements, and develop and implement additional strategies for staffing centralized processing centers during migrant surges.

Develop, implement, and regularly monitor quality assurance mechanisms at the Santa Teresa station to ensure compliance with standards related to providing hygiene items, sleeping mats, and medical care to detainees.

Oversee a data integrity review at the El Paso Hardened Facility to verify that staff are accurately recording custodial actions. If the problem we identified persists, implement a quality assurance plan, and continue to monitor data integrity.

We recommend the CISA Chief Information Officer immediately mitigate the control deficiencies or cease operation of the Federal Virtual Training Environment system.

Implement controls to allow for the capability to identify and monitor potential scheduling delays and to ensure family preferences are being met at national cemeteries.

Improve schedule management for charging station construction by using a project management system and related analytics to record dynamic updates, centralize information, and analyze performance to inform future construction baselines.

(U) Rec. 1: Recommendation is Classified.

(U) Rec. 2: Recommendation is Classified.

(U) Rec. 3: Recommendation is Classified.

(U) Rec. 4.a: Recommendation is Classified.

(U) Rec. 4.b: Recommendation is Classified.