Oversight

Watchdog Finds ‘Minimal Oversight’ of Program to Help Workers Who Lose Their Jobs Following Disasters

IG proposes improvements based on a Labor Department agency’s response to 2017 hurricanes and wildfires.

Management

SBA Relaunches COVID Loan Program As Watchdog Warns About Possible Fraud 

The recent COVID relief package included funding for a third round of the program, which has come under much scrutiny. 

Oversight

Agencies Are Generally Complying With Trump Diversity Training Changes, Watchdogs Find

A federal judge recently issued a preliminary injunction for the executive order as it applies to contractors and grantees. 

Oversight

Watchdog Finds Education Department’s Return to Office Plan is Generally Good

The plan largely incorporates recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, White House, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

Oversight

Watchdog Finds EPA Reopening Plans Largely Follow CDC, But Were Inconsistent

The reopening process, a source of tension between the agency and its union, is a “significant challenge” for EPA, said the report. 

Oversight

Oversight In 'Extraordinary Times': A Q&A With the Executive Overseeing Pandemic Spending

Robert Westbrooks explains how the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is keeping tabs on historic levels of emergency spending.

Oversight

House Democrat Seeks to Hold IGs Accountable for Reviewing Agencies’ Reopenings

Most of the watchdog offices contacted by Rep. Connolly plan to conduct some form of review. 

Workforce

Trump Administration Misled Congress to Justify Relocating Employees, IG Says

The decision to move the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction, Colorado, was not all about growing costs, as agency officials suggested.

Oversight

Watchdog: OSHA Had Trouble Processing Whistleblower Complaints Efficiently Even Before Coronavirus Hit

During the first four months of the pandemic the agency received 30% more complaints than during the same period in 2019. 

Oversight

Inspector General Blasts Efforts to Transfer OPM Facility Authority to GSA

The Office of Personnel Management watchdog said the Trump administration took action without regard to the impact, potentially incurring millions of dollars in recurring annual costs.

Management

Federal Bureau of Prisons Spent $3M on Unproven UV Coronavirus Sanitizing Portals 

The gates intended to disinfect staff as they enter facilities haven’t been studied enough to know if they are safe or effective, union says in complaint to IG.  

Oversight

Acting State Department IG Will Resign Effective Friday

Amb. Stephen Akard was installed after Trump’s controversial firing of IG Steve Linick in May.