Watchdogs

Federal Watchdogs | Federal Times

How GAO went from a small accounting office to Congress’ supreme auditor in 100 years

The Government Accountability Office has evolved over 100 years from a mainly financial overseer to the trusted authority on government operations.

8 months ago

Watchdogs call for protection of their temporary colleagues’ independence

Chair of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Alison Lerner said that current provisions for vacant posts, 'undermine the IG’s independence and stakeholders’ confidence.'

10 months ago

Watchdogs

Injuries are higher among nonpermanent postal employees

U.S. Postal Service employees in a non-career capacity get injured on the job 50 percent more often than permanent employees, a government watchdog found.

Watchdog: Ross misled on reason for citizenship question

According to an investigation from the Office of Inspector General, during congressional testimony three years ago, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross gave a misleading reason for why he wanted a citizenship question on the 2020 census.

13 months ago

Watchdog: 2 Trump EPA appointees defrauded agency of $130K

Two high-ranking Trump political appointees at the EPA engaged in fraudulent payroll activities, including payments to employees after they were fired and to one of the officials when he was absent from work.

13 months ago

Watchdog priorities back up IRS request for more staff

A Government Accountability Office report listed human capital management as a top challenge for the IRS to achieve its mission.

14 months ago

Watchdogs would get subpoena power under a bipartisan bill

Inspectors General would have the court-enforceable power to compel testimony from former feds and contractors.

15 months ago

Agency watchdogs lack protection and resources to fulfill missions

Inspectors general often lack the staff, influence and protection from political interference to fully accomplish their missions of uncovering waste, fraud and abuse.

16 months ago

Former Trump housing official sanctioned over campaign video

Former Trump administration official Lynne Patton has been barred from holding a federal job for four years after she 'improperly harnessed the authority of her federal position to assist the Trump campaign.'

16 months ago

Shrinking staff and dipping morale plague federal labor office

The National Labor Relations Board managed to accomplish faster work with fewer people, but at a cost to employee morale.

17 months ago

Workforce shortages are ‘significant’ to agencies’ high-risk problems

Nearly two-thirds of high-risk problems outlined by the Government Accountability Office have a significant workforce component.

17 months ago

Federal watchdogs open probe of response to Capitol riot

The reviews will encompass everything from whether the FBI adequately shared information with other law enforcement agencies about the potential for violence to how the Pentagon mobilized for the Jan. 6 crisis.

19 months ago

Agencies begin to receive compliance checks on diversity executive order

Agency inspectors general have confirmed whether agencies are in the process of implementing White House orders to restrict diversity training.

20 months ago

Investigators blast VA secretary’s ‘unprofessional’ behavior but find no evidence of crimes

The report accuses senior officials of ignoring problems within the department to pursue political vendettas instead.

20 months ago

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro holds his notes after a television interview at the White House on Oct. 12, 2020, in Washington.

Trump adviser broke law with Biden criticism, watchdog says

Pete Navarro, the director of the White House Office for Trade and Manufacturing Policy, repeatedly violated the Hatch Act with his criticism of Joe Biden, a watchdog agency reported.

20 months ago

Agencies lack information on underpaid contract workers

The Department of Labor is responsible for investigating federal service contractors that underpay their employees, but not all agencies are aware of which contractors are responsible.

21 months ago

In this Oct. 23, 2020, file photo, mail-in ballots for the 2020 general election in the United States are seen after being sorted at the Chester County Voter Services office, in West Chester, Pa.

Millions of mail ballots not yet returned in key states

Compounding concerns are mail delivery delays that have persisted across the country.

22 months ago

Watchdog council honors outstanding inspectors general at 2020 awards

The 2020 awards honored inspectors general employees that performed exceptional work in preventing waste, fraud and abuse.

22 months ago

Ivanka Trump, right, and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, left, speak with a farming family during a visit to the North Carolina State Farmers Market in Raleigh, N.C., on Sept. 10, 2020.

Agriculture secretary violated Hatch Act by backing Trump reelection

The Office of Special Counsel called on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to reimburse the government for costs associated with his participation in an event in North Carolina.

22 months ago

Union officials praise plans for investigation into accusations of racism at Veterans Affairs

GAO officials plan a full examination of the charges in early 2021.

23 months ago

Agency relocation was justified by ‘misleading’ information, watchdog finds

Congressional testimony that the Bureau of Land Management had to relocate it's offices due to cost increases was largely 'misleading,' according to an agency Inspector General report.

24 months ago

Watchdog: Homeland Security officials were wrongly appointed

The Government Accountability Office says acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf and his acting deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, are ineligible to run the agency.

24 months ago

Initial efforts to merge OPM and GSA cost more money, watchdog finds

Efforts to move property management authorities from the Office of Personnel Management to the General Services Administration were a "waste of resources," the agency inspector general found.

24 months ago

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appears at a Senate hearing.

State Department watchdog resigns after predecessor’s ouster

Stephen Akard announced his resignation just two days after Democrats issued subpoenas for several of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's top aides to answer questions about the shakeup in the watchdog's office.

2 years ago

A United States Passport sits on a table prior to being renewed at a United States Embassy Outreach event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 22, 2019.

Florida postal clerk charged in ID theft scheme

A Florida postal clerk stole mail and passport applications as part of an identify theft scheme, federal prosecutors said.

2 years ago

In this April 7, 2020, file photo, Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington.

Watchdog report faults Medicare agency’s contract management

The head of the Medicare and Medicaid programs failed to properly manage more than $6 million in communications and outreach contracts, giving broad authority over federal employees to a Republican media strategist she worked with before joining the Trump administration, a government watchdog said in a report to be released Thursday.

2 years ago

Omaha postal service employee indicted on mail theft

A former U.S. Postal Service employee in Omaha was indicted for mail theft, and federal prosecutors said Monday that they have identified about 216 victims.

2 years ago

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2 years ago