Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Management Letter for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Fiscal Year 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements Audit
From the Highlights: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prepares annual financial statements to demonstrate accountability to Congress and the public. We contracted with an independent accounting firm KPMG LLP [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler limited liability partnership] to audit CBP's fiscal year (FY) 2016 financial statements to express an opinion over the fairness of presentation of those statements. During the audit KPMG LLP noted certain matters involving CBP's internal control and other operational matters."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-30
-
Williamsburg Regional Hospital, South Carolina, Generally Accounted for and Expended FEMA Grant Funds Awarded for Emergency Work Properly
From the Highlights: "Williamsburg Regional Hospital (Hospital), South Carolina, received a $5.3 million FEMA grant award for emergency work from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (South Carolina), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages resulting from severe storms and flooding in October 2015. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Hospital accounted for and expended FEMA grant funds according to Federal requirements. [...] FEMA should direct South Carolina to actively monitor the Hospital's annual audit requirement and take appropriate action for any noncompliance."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-07-06
-
Management Directorate's Management Letter for DHS' Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Statements Audit
From the Highlights: "The 'Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990' (Public Law 101- 576) and the 'Department Of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act' (Public Law 108-330) require us to conduct an annual audit of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. During the fiscal year (FY) 2016 audit of DHS' consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, KPMG LLP [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler limited liability partnership] noted certain matters involving the Management Directorate's internal control and other operational matters."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-07-07
-
Subminimum Wage Program: Factors Influencing the Transition of Individuals with Disabilities to Competitive Integrated Employment, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permits, in certain circumstances, the payment of subminimum wages-- wages that are below the federal minimum wage--to individuals with disabilities, often those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. To pay such wages, employers must apply for and hold a 14(c) certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. As of October 2020, more than 1,200 organizations held or had applied for 14(c) certificates to employ workers with disabilities, often in segregated settings. At the same time, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, calls for maximizing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to earn competitive wages in non-segregated settings. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the 14(c) program, including how and why individuals transition from 14(c) employment to CIE. This report describes (1) factors that help or hinder transition from 14(c) employment to CIE [competitive integrated employment], and (2) the extent to which the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic might affect this transition."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
-
VA Health Care: Efforts Needed to Ensure Effective Use and Appropriate Staffing of Suicide Prevention Teams, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Compared to the general population, veterans suffer a disproportionately higher rate of suicide. VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] has stated that suicide prevention is the agency's top clinical priority. At its local medical facilities, VHA [Veterans Health Administration] employs suicide prevention teams, which include coordinators--staff with a full-time commitment to suicide prevention activities--and case managers. The Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review, among other issues, the responsibilities and workload of suicide prevention coordinators. This report examines how VHA (1) uses local suicide prevention teams, and (2) helps determine facilities' suicide prevention staffing needs. To do this work, GAO analyzed team staffing data, reviewed VHA policies, and interviewed OMHSP [Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention] officials and team staff from five medical facilities. The facilities were selected for variation in composition of suicide prevention teams, geographic location, and total number of patients, among other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 658, National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 17, 2021. From the Document: "S. 658 would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate with a consortium of academic and nonprofit entities to help state and local governments prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-04-05
-
Review of CBP Information Technology System Outage of January 2, 2017 (Redacted)
From the Highlights: "On January 2, 2017, a 4-hour system outage disrupted Custom and Border Protection's (CBP) processing of incoming international travelers at airports nationwide. We conducted this review to determine the effectiveness of CBP's efforts to address this system outage, as well as the sufficiency of its plans for minimizing the possibility and impact of similar system outages in the future. [...] We are recommending that CBP implement improvements to its software testing, vulnerability patching, and disaster recovery capabilities."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-11-21
-
Recent White House Actions on Immigration [Updated March 23, 2021]
From the Document: "In the past several weeks, the Biden Administration has engaged [hyperlink] in a series of executive actions on a range of issues. Some concern the administration and enforcement of federal immigration laws. These immigration-related initiatives purport to revise substantially Trump Administration policies that generally prioritized immigration enforcement activities and restricted the ability of some non-U.S. nationals (aliens) to enter the United States or pursue immigration benefits. [...] This Legal Sidebar provides a brief overview of President Biden's executive orders and other directives relating to immigration through March 23, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.; Santamaria, Kelsey Y.
2021-03-23
-
Management Alert - FEMA Faces Significant Challenges Ensuring Recipients Properly Manage Disaster Funds
From the Highlights: "This is a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) management alert regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) challenges with internal controls related to grant management and oversight of disaster funds. This alert describes FEMA's internal control weaknesses and the effects of FEMA's ineffective response to improve its internal controls, based on prior DHS OIG reports and DHS Independent Auditors' financial statement audit reports addressing proper grant management."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-12-20
-
Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards [Updated March 22, 2021]
From the Document: "On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13990, 'Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,' which directs federal agencies to review regulations and other agency actions from the Trump Administration, including the federal standards that regulate fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks. These standards include the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Light-Duty Vehicle GHG Emission Standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NHTSA and EPA have not released a proposal for a new set of standards at this time."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Tsang, Linda; Canis, Bill
2021-03-22
-
United Nations Issues: Cabinet Rank of the U.S. Permanent Representative [Updated March 23, 2021]
From the Document: "The U.S. Permanent Representative is the chief representative of the United States to the United Nations. The President appoints the Permanent Representative with the advice and consent of the Senate. Of the 31 individuals who have served since 1946, about two-thirds have been accorded Cabinet rank by Presidents. Some Members of Congress have demonstrated an ongoing interest in the Cabinet rank of the Permanent Representative in the context of the Senate confirmation process and broader U.S. policy toward the United Nations. On November 24, 2020, President-elect Biden announced his intent to nominate Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be Permanent Representative, with Cabinet rank. Biden stated that he will accord Cabinet status to Greenfield 'because I want to hear her voice on all the major foreign policy discussions we have.' Thomas-Greenfield was confirmed by the Senate on February 23, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa; Hogue, Henry B.; Chesser, Susan G.
2021-03-23
-
Stafford Act Assistance for Public Health Incidents [Updated March 22, 2021]
From the Document: "This Insight provides a brief overview of presidential declarations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (hereinafter the Stafford Act--42 U.S.C. §5121 et seq.) in response to public health incidents. It also provides examples of previously issued Stafford Act declarations that address public health hazards, including the unprecedented declarations for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Erica A.; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2021-03-22
-
Depot Maintenance: DOD Should Improve Pandemic Plans and Publish Working Capital Fund Policy, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Pandemics such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] can impact the productivity of critical DOD depots that maintain weapon systems if essential personnel are unable to report for work. Navy and Air Force WCFs [Working Capital Funds] must also maintain cash balances sufficient for the activities they support, including the eight depots operated by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, to sustain readiness. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess the effects of COVID-19 on WCF and depot operations as part of its CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act oversight. This report (1) describes how COVID-19 impacted Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force depot productivity; (2) examines the extent to which depot actions in response to COVID-19 addressed key practices to support the workforce, continue operations, and improve crisis response; and (3) examines the extent to which WCF cash management policy ensured financial solvency and reflected current guidance. GAO reviewed DOD guidance, depot revenue data for fiscal year 2020, and documents related to the impact of COVID-19 on productivity and WCF solvency; and interviewed depot and financial management officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
-
Information Technology Management Letter for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Component of the FY 2016 Department of Homeland Security Financial Statement Audit
From the Highlights: "We contracted with the independent public accounting firm KPMG [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler], LLP [limited liability partnership] to perform the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the year ended September 30, 2016. KPMG evaluated selected general IT controls (GITC) and business process application controls at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). KPMG determined that USCIS took corrective action to address certain prior-year IT control deficiencies. For example, USCIS made improvements by designing and consistently implementing certain account management controls related to user access forms. However, KPMG continued to identify GITC deficiencies related to access controls for USCIS' core financial and feeder systems. The deficiencies collectively limited USCIS' ability to ensure that critical financial and operational data were maintained in such a manner as to ensure their confidentiality, integrity, and availability. In addition, certain of these deficiencies adversely impacted internal controls over DHS' financial reporting and its operation and therefore are considered to collectively represent a material weakness identified in the FY 2016 DHS Agency Financial Report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-26
-
Information Technology Management Letter for the Office of Financial Management and Office of the Chief Information Officer Components of the FY 2016 Department of Homeland Security Financial Statement Audit
From the Highlights: "We contracted with the independent public accounting firm KPMG [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler] LLP [limited liability partnership] to perform the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the year ended September 30, 2016. KPMG evaluated selected general IT controls and business process application controls at the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). KPMG identified deficiencies related to access controls and configuration management of OFM's and OCIO's core financial and feeder systems. The deficiencies collectively limited OFM and OCIO's ability to ensure that critical financial and operational data were maintained in such a manner as to ensure their confidentiality, integrity, and availability. In addition, certain of these deficiencies adversely impacted internal controls over DHS' financial reporting and its operation and therefore are considered to collectively represent a material weakness reported in the FY 2016 DHS Agency Financial Report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-28
-
Information Technology Management Letter for the Science and Technology Directorate Component of the FY 2016 Department of Homeland Security Financial Statement Audit
From the Highlights: "Each year, our independent auditors identify component-level information technology (IT) control deficiencies as part of the DHS consolidated financial statement audit. This letter provides details that were not included in the fiscal year (FY) 2016 DHS Agency Financial Report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-26
-
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' Management Letter for DHS' Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Statements Audit
From the Highlights: "KPMG [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler] LLP [limited liability partnership], under contract with the DHS Office of Inspector General, audited the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for FY 2016. The resulting management letter contains four observations related to internal controls and other operational matters which are presented in this report for management's consideration. KPMG LLP noted internal control deficiencies in several processes including monitoring and recording employee completion of the annual ethics and integrity training; review and approval of H1-B and L fraud fee journal entries; recording of property, plant, and equipment; and inaccurate and unsupported data in some systems. These deficiencies are not considered significant and were not required to be reported in the 'Independent Auditors' Report on DHS' FY 2016 Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting,' dated November 14, 2016, included in the DHS FY 2016 'Agency Financial Report.'"
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-27
-
Science and Technology Directorate's Management Letter for DHS' Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Statements Audit
From the Highlights: "KPMG [Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler] LLP [limited liability partnership], under contract with the DHS Office of Inspector General, audited the Science and Technology Directorate's financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for FY 2016. The resulting management letter contains three observations related to internal controls and other operational matters which are presented in this report for management's consideration. KPMG LLP noted internal control deficiencies in several processes including journal entry review processes; procurement and financial management system reconciliations; and intra-governmental payment and collection expense review and approval. These deficiencies are not considered significant and were not required to be reported in the 'Independent Auditors' Report on DHS' FY 2016 Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting,' dated November 14, 2016, included in the DHS FY 2016 'Agency Financial Report.'"
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-26
-
CBP Has Not Ensured Safeguards for Data Collected Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems
From the Highlights: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), a surveillance program, to support its law enforcement mission. Our objective was to determine whether CBP is effectively safeguarding information, such as images and video, collected on and transmitted from the UAS. Our work included examining the UAS IT [information technology] systems security control environment."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2018-09-21
-
Native American Cultural Resources: Improved Information Could Enhance Agencies' Efforts to Analyze and Respond to Risks of Theft and Damage, Report to the Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal laws prohibit the theft and damage of Native American cultural resources, such as pottery, tools, and sacred objects, on federal and Indian lands. Federal agencies help protect these resources by attempting to prevent theft and damage and by investigating and prosecuting such crimes. These agencies include the Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service; the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the Tennessee Valley Authority. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review these agencies' efforts. This report examines (1) approaches selected federal agencies have taken to prevent and detect theft and damage; and (2) factors that have hindered agencies' efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute incidents of theft and damage. GAO analyzed data from seven federal agencies, reviewed agency documents, and interviewed agency officials and representatives of Native American tribes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
-
FEMA Should Disallow $2.04 Billion Approved for New Orleans Infrastructure Repairs
From the Highlights: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the City of New Orleans (City) and the Sewer & Water Board of New Orleans (S&W Board) $785 million to repair damages to infrastructure. FEMA approved an additional $1.25 billion to the City and the S&W Board to complete infrastructure repairs. [...] FEMA should disallow $2.04 billion--the initial award of $785 million, plus the additional $1.25 billion award."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-07-24
-
Audit of Department of Homeland Security's Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 Conference Spending
From the Highlights: "Public Law (P.L.) 113-76, 'Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014,' and P. L. 113-235, 'Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015', require the Department of Homeland Security to report events-related spending. Our audit objective was to determine whether DHS' spending on selected hosted or sponsored conferences for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 was appropriate, reasonable, necessary, and in compliance with Federal regulations. [...] We made five recommendations that, when implemented, will improve conference reporting and recordkeeping and ensure the accuracy and timeliness of conference submissions."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-07-10
-
Audit of FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Downe Township, New Jersey
From the Highlights: "Downe Township, New Jersey (Township) received a $2.5 million Public Assistance grant award from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (New Jersey), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages from Hurricane Sandy that occurred in October 2012. [...] FEMA should disallow $832,040 of grant funds and deobligate $12,938 in unneeded funds. FEMA should also direct New Jersey to provide technical assistance and monitoring to ensure the Township complies with Federal procurement regulations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-09-19
-
Management Alert Regarding Inspector General Access to Information
From the Document: "[E]mployees in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Office of Security Capabilities (OSC) were given internal guidance that, if followed, would improperly restrict and delay the DHS Office of Inspector General's (OIG) access to documents. Specifically, on October 3, 2016, 'TSA HQ [Headquarters] - Executive Advisor' sent a communication to TSA's OSC setting out instructions for interacting with the OIG. The email notifies TSA personnel that documents responsive to an OIG request must first be 'cleared' within TSA before being provided to the OIG. The email also states that, prior to production to the OIG, documents are to be subjected to multiple levels of review within TSA, including review by a Designated Program Office, the OSC Audit Liaison Team, the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), and TSA leadership."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-07-06
-
Colorado County, Texas, Has Adequate Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage Its FEMA Grant
From the Highlights: "The County [Colorado County, Texas] estimated it had sustained approximately $2.4 million in damages from severe storms and flooding in late April 2016. At the time of our fieldwork, FEMA had not completed project worksheets to define the scope of disaster work. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the County may need additional technical assistance and monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal requirements. [...] FEMA should not fund $458,150 of ineligible contract costs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-05-04
-
Results of Office of Inspector General FY 2016 Spot Inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Family Detention Facilities
From the Summary of Results: "During our July 2016 unannounced spot inspections of ICE's [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] three family detention facilities, we observed conditions that generally met ICE's 2007 Family Residential Standards. The facilities were clean, well-organized, and efficiently run. Based on our observations, interviews, and document reviews, we concluded that, at all three facilities, ICE was satisfactorily addressing the inherent challenges of providing medical care and language services and ensuring the safety of families in detention. We interviewed ICE and contractor staff at the three facilities to evaluate the level of training and awareness of appropriate procedures for handling allegations of sexual assault or abuse and child abuse, as well as complaints and grievances. The staff at all three facilities said they had received training, and all staff interviewed could identify the appropriate steps to take if they received such allegations, complaints, or grievances. We also observed surveillance cameras and perimeter security at the three facilities. Staff at all three reported they store camera footage for at least 3 weeks. At one facility, staff reported that surveillance cameras cannot see certain spots in public areas. In addition, we observed that the facility perimeters may not prevent unauthorized intrusion."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-02
-
EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 13, April 1, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "NIOSH [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] issues Safety Advisory to fire departments on fading odorants in natural gas and propane leaks"; "Honoring public safety telecommunications personnel for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 11-17"; "Application period now open for DHS Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grants"; "National Fire Academy now accepting applications for next fall, resumes on-campus training and continues virtual offerings"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency] releases Supplemental Direction on Emergency Directive for Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerabilities"; "States enact safe harbor laws against cyberattacks, but demand adoption of cybersecurity frameworks"; "North Korean hackers expand targeting of security community"; and "A ransomware gang is asking victims' customers to aid in extortion efforts."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-04-01
-
Milwaukie, Oregon, Has Adequate Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage Its FEMA Grant Funding
From the Highlights: "The severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during December 6-23, 2015, caused severe damage to the City of Milwaukie, Oregon (City). City officials estimate that disaster-related costs may exceed $2.2 million. We conducted this audit early in the Public Assistance process to identify areas where the City may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-06-06
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 522, Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 17, 2021. From the Document: "S. 522 would require agencies to post an Internet address link for any proposed rule published in the 'Federal Register' that would take the reader to a concise summary of not more than 100 words posted on regulations.gov [hyperlink]. The Presidential Memorandum on Plain Language issued on June 1, 1998, and Executive Order 13563 already require agencies to use plain language in all proposed and final rules. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that preparing the short summary of proposed rules under S. 522 would not significantly increase agencies' administrative costs. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing S. 522 would have no significant cost over the 2021-2026 period. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending by some agencies that are allowed to use fees, receipts from the sale of goods, and other collections to cover operating costs. CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible because most of them can adjust amounts collected to reflect changes in operating costs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-03-29
-
2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
From the Overview and Acknowledgements: "This report is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State pursuant to Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. 19 U.S.C. [U.S. Code] § 2464, 2467 also require that U.S. foreign and trade policy take into account countries' human rights and worker rights performance and that country reports be submitted to the Congress on an annual basis. This report includes documents on several countries that do not fall into the categories established by these statutes and thus are not covered by the congressional requirement. The report addresses situations and events in calendar year 2020 only."
United States. Department of State
2021-03-20
