Investigative Reports

We substantiated allegations that an operator placed safety systems in bypass and did not immediately notify BSEE of the subsequent oil discharge. 

Why We Did This Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General has identified concerns regarding the installation and use of unauthorized software, specifically jiggler software, on EPA computers and networks. Commonly referred to as “mouse jigglers,” jiggler software simulates activity on a laptop, preventing the laptop from entering sleep mode and locking out its user. After running network scans in two EPA regions in November and December 2024, the Agency discovered 120 employees and contractors using jiggler software.

Summary of Findings

Our investigation found that jiggler software could bypass the Agency’s Windows Installer settings, that some of the EPA’s information technology specialists believed they were exempt from the policy, and that other EPA employees and contractors installed the software without authorization. Furthermore, we discovered inconsistencies in how quickly the regional offices acted to remove the jiggler software after it was detected. The installation and use of unauthorized software on EPA computers and networks represent critical cybersecurity risks and ethics violations for the Agency.

A yardmaster based in Chicago, Illinois, resigned from her position on September 20, 2025, prior to her administrative hearing. We found that the former employee violated company policies by secretly recording a conversation she had with her supervisor without his consent or knowledge. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.

Co-CEO of Chinese publicly traded technology company and financial advisor indicted for over $100M securities fraud scheme

An Amtrak senior management official based in Washington, D.C., resigned from his position on July 17, 2025, and a senior director in Florida, resigned from his position on August 22, 2025. At the time of their resignations, both employees were under investigation by our office for alleged conflicts of interest with Amtrak vendors that were not disclosed to the company. The former senior management official is not eligible for rehire.

The OIG conducted an administrative investigation into allegations of misconduct by Judith Dawson, former Chancellor of the VA Acquisition Academy, in connection with an August 2023 acquisition training symposium held at a conference center hotel in Aurora, Colorado, and attended by over 1,200 contracting personnel.

The OIG found that Ms. Dawson knowingly accepted multiple impermissible gifts from the conference center and violated VA policy by improperly directing staff to solicit and accept gifts of sponsored social events at the symposium, purportedly on behalf of VA. The OIG also found that Ms. Dawson at times discouraged her executive assistant from raising questions or seeking guidance regarding potential ethical violations in connection with the symposium, which was contrary to legislative direction that supervisors are to foster an environment in which VA employees could express concerns. Further, the investigation revealed that Ms. Dawson did not report the spa services she received from the conference center as gifts on her annual public financial disclosure report for 2023, even though the value of the gifts exceeded the reporting threshold. Instead, Ms. Dawson indicated that she had no reportable gifts.

Due to Ms. Dawson’s retirement from VA, the OIG made no recommendations with respect to possible administrative action against her. However, the OIG recommended that VA determine whether any additional steps need to be taken regarding Ms. Dawson’s 2023 public financial disclosure based on the findings in this report. The OIG also recommended VA consider additional training on sponsorships for VA events and acceptance of free meals. VA concurred with the OIG’s recommendations and noted that it plans to issue a memorandum regarding whistleblower protections, direct the relevant senior executives to complete conference policy training and report their oversight activities within ten days following a conference, and amend Ms. Dawson’s 2023 financial disclosure report.

A red cap based in Tampa, Florida, was terminated from employment on August 14, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by not disclosing six criminal convictions on his employee background check during the hiring process and by being dishonest with our agents during his interview.

A sheet metal worker based in Los Angeles, California, was terminated from employment on August 5, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by making profane, sexually explicit remarks to a female co-worker while on duty. Three other employees corroborated the incident. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.

A high-speed rail tech based in New York City resigned from his position on July 29, 2025, prior to the conclusion of his administrative hearing. We found that the former employee violated company policies by lying about the extent of an injury while on a medical leave of absence. We also found that the former employee owned and/or operated two companies while on a medical leave, also in violation of company policies. He is not eligible for rehire.

In June 2024, at our request, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) found and provided us 36 matches for U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) employees who were connected to federal government pandemic relief loans. Pursuant to the commitment of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to fostering and promoting accountability and integrity in government, we undertook an investigation into the 36 matches to determine the appropriateness of these employees receiving pandemic relief loans. Specifically, we sought to detect fraud in these pandemic relief loans.

United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $629,043 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to contribute the required percentage of resources in exchange for AmeriCorps funds the county received.