Department of the Interior OIG

We evaluated the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) and the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS’) implementation of Phase 1 of the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program for a USGS system. Our evaluation revealed control deficiencies for hardware and software asset management and...

We audited the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) Interior Business Center (IBC), which manages procurements for over 50 Federal and State client agencies, to determine whether its internal control system was sufficient to ensure that it followed the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or...

The OIG investigated allegations that an enrolled member of a Native American tribe paid bribes or kickbacks to an elected member of a tribal business committee in exchange for preference on tribal construction contracts.We did not substantiate the allegations. A financial analysis revealed no...

The OIG investigated allegations that a GS-12 employee with the Office of the Secretary misused his Government purchase card to buy computers without authorization, made other improper purchases with his Government purchase card, and filed false time and attendance certifications.We did not find...

The OIG investigated allegations that a tribal wildland fire employee submitted false overtime claims in 2018.We found insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation. The wildland fire employee denied the allegations and said any overtime claimed was fire related, and we did not find any...

On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To date the CARES Act has provided the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) with $909.7 million, which includes direct apportionments of $756 million to support the needs of DOI...

We audited the costs claimed by the State of Alabama, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (Division), under grants awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. The audit...

We evaluated the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. We found that the Bureau of Indian Affairs violated Federal regulations by delegating land title authority to its Acquisition Center. The delegation of land title authority resulted in confusion about roles...

The OIG investigated allegations that Extraction Oil and Gas (EXT) drilled multiple horizontal wellbores through a railroad right-of-way (ROW) in Weld County, CO, containing Federal minerals without first obtaining a Federal lease or drilling permit.We found that three companies (EXT, Mineral...

The OIG investigated allegations that National Park Service (NPS) employee Stephanie Wallace used another NPS employee’s Government purchase card to make personal purchases. We found that Wallace used the employee’s purchase card to pay for her children’s private school tuition.Wallace pleaded...