DOI - "Inspector General's Statement Summarizing the Major Management and Performance Challenges Facing the U.S. Department of the Interior, FY 2019"

Title: Inspector General's Statement Summarizing the Major Management and Performance Challenges Facing the U.S. Department of the Interior, FY 2019 Source: DOI Data/Action: OIG Reports Date: 11/15/2019 Text Preview: ...Climate change affects land use, water resources, wildlife and their habitats, and the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Another cross-cutting issue is public safety, which is an aspect of many DOI responsibilities, including public land management, infrastructure and facilities maintenance, and disaster... ...Disaster Preparedness and Response Over the last 7 years, the DOI has received supplemental funding for disaster response three times. In our review of associated financial awards, we found issues with inadequate oversight. These awards are riskier than normal because they are awarded quickly and often without competition, and have a higher purchase threshold than other acquisitions. In FY 2019, the DOI received $328 million in disaster relief funding following Hurricanes Florence, Lane, and Michael; Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut; and other disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes... ...disaster supplemental appropriations provided under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 ($516 million). We found that the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have been slow in expending supplemental disaster funds. The DOI's Plans and Progress: The NPS and the FWS have plans to train employees to improve contract administration during disasters. In addition, the FWS informed us that 92 percent of the hurricane portion of its disaster...