Oversight
Democratic Senators Call for USAID to Investigate Anti-LGBT, Anti-Muslim Comments by Appointees
The Democrats’ request comes as the agency grapples with internal frustration over its approach to racism and bias.
Oversight
Watchdog: HHS Hasn't Done Enough to Catalog Reports of Sexual Misconduct in Migrant Children Facilities
In a six month period in 2018, the Health and Human Services Department IG found more than 700 possible sexual incidents of varying severity, including 48 incidents of misconduct by an adult against a minor.
Oversight
Inspector General for 2008 Economic Recovery Program Offers Lessons for Pandemic Oversight
“We'll do whatever we can to help [the special IG for pandemic recovery] be successful,” says Christy Goldsmith Romero in an interview with Government Executive.
Oversight
How — and When — Can the Coronavirus Vaccine Become a Reality?
It is likely we’ll eventually have a coronavirus vaccine — but perhaps not as quickly as some expect. From development, to clinical trials and distribution, ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen explains the tremendous challenges that lie ahead.
Oversight
DEA Failed to Properly Consider Risks When Laundering Money for Drug Traffickers
Drug enforcement agents routinely ignored oversight mechanisms while laundering millions for illicit organizations, IG finds.
Oversight
House Democrat Asks Inspectors General to Review Agencies' Reopening Plans
"Your continued oversight is critical to protect the health and safety of our government’s most valuable resource: its federal workforce," Connolly wrote.
Oversight
Analysis: The Postal Service Is Steadily Getting Worse — Can It Handle a National Mail-In Election?
Postal delays and mistakes have marred primary voting, and after years of budget cuts and plant closures, mail delivery has slowed so much that ballot deadlines in many states are no longer realistic.
Oversight
Coronavirus Roundup: Senate Democrats Introduce COVID-19 Ethics and Oversight Bill; VOA Officials Resign Amid Claims CDC is Excluding VOA Journalists
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight
For Experts Who Study Coronaviruses, a Grim Vindication
They warned that the next great pandemic would be a coronavirus, but research funding went to studying other threats.
Oversight
Democrats Propose Requiring Federal Law Enforcement Officers to Identify Themselves During Protests
“Transparency is a building block of public trust and federal law enforcement officials who hid their identities were not serving the public's interest,” said one lawmaker.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: An Accountability and Oversight Update
Nextgov’s Frank Konkel and GovExec’s Courtney Bublé cover the latest news on inspectors general and the Trump administration.
Oversight
'I Can’t Speak Negatively About the President,' Says Official Charged With Stimulus Oversight
President Donald Trump’s purge of watchdogs is on the mind of one of the newly hired officials charged with overseeing the more than $2 trillion CARES Act.
Oversight
House Democrats Ask IC for Plans to Prevent Foreign Actors from Exploiting Racial Tensions
“Unfortunately, we know that foreign actors have historically sought to exploit tensions in American communities during times like these,” they wrote.
Oversight
Watchdog Groups Highlight Potential Issues of Acting IGs Holding Dual Roles
In “today’s highly partisan environment” this setup could “understandably raise questions and create unease” in both the IG office and the agency where the official holds an executive job, said experts.
Oversight
Senate Investigation Criticizes the IRS for Failing to Oversee Free Filing Program
Millions of Americans have spent billions on TurboTax and other tax prep that they shouldn’t have. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recommends the IRS advertise the free filing option.
Oversight
Democrats Press FEMA on Hurricane Season Preparations Amid Pandemic
Lawmakers want more information on staffing and procurement.
Oversight
Republican Senator Holds Up Nominations While Awaiting IG Firing Explanations
The positions now in limbo are National Counterterrorism Center director and State Department undersecretary for arms control and international security.
Oversight
Legislation Seeks to Increase Transparency and Strengthen Congress’ Role in Federal Spending
Both parties have “encroached on the power of the purse,” said one senator, but “this has been acutely true under this administration.”
Oversight
Labor Dept IG Steps Down Following Pandemic Relief Fund Fraud Warning
“This decision has been long in the works and is for entirely personal reasons. I have not been told or asked to resign,” Scott Dahl said.
Oversight