TVA's Preemployment Investigation and Onboarding Processes

The Office of the Inspector General conducted an evaluation to determine if the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is performing preemployment suitability and onboarding steps necessary for access in a timely manner. We found TVA was allowing access to TVA facilities while not always performing preemployment suitability and onboarding steps in a timely manner. Specifically, we determined that the Form I-9, for 381 of 1,571 personnel (24 percent) hired between October 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023, was either not completed in a timely manner or never completed in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and 8 Code of Federal Regulations §§ 274a.1-274a.14. However, according to TVA Police and Emergency Management personnel, physical access should have been revoked but was not because Human Resources and Administration does not notify them when the I-9 threshold is exceeded. Additionally we identified opportunities to strengthen TVA Standard Programs and Processes to better align with federal requirements.