Reports

02.27.2023

The Census Bureau Can Improve Processes to Promote Transparency of Cooperative Agreements

Our evaluation found that although the Census Bureau followed internal guidelines when awarding a cooperative agreement to an independent nonprofit, the bureau has opportunities to improve transparency in its management and oversight of key award processes

Report Number OIG-23-011-I

U.S. Census Bureau (Census)

Audits / Evaluations

02.13.2023

Evaluation of Ethics Oversight in Preventing Financial Conflicts of Interest by USPTO Patent Examiners

This announcement memo initiates an evaluation to determine whether USPTO and the Department are effectively administering their ethics rules to prevent financial conflicts of interest by patent examiners.

01.27.2023

2023 Annual Letter to OMB re: Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012

In accordance with the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 and OMB guidance, this letter summarizes the results of our risk assessment and our audit recommendation status related to illegal, improper, or erroneous purchase and travel card activity at the Department and its bureaus.

Report Number OIG-23-010-M

Office of the Secretary

Correspondence

01.24.2023

Semiannual Report on NTIA's Broadband Programs

This report is the first in a series of semiannual reviews providing the status of six NTIA-administered grant programs aimed at expanding broadband access in the United States.

Report Number OIG-23-009

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Audits / Evaluations

01.09.2023

Bureau of Industry and Security's Law Enforcement Oversight Policies and Procedures Need Improvement

Our evaluation found that while BIS has the legal basis and authority for its law enforcement functions and has procedures for providing law enforcement training, its policies and procedures in areas such as firearms training need improvement.

Report Number OIG-23-008-I

Bureau of Industry and Security

Audits / Evaluations

12.14.2022

Inspector General Response to Ranking Members Thune and Wicker

This letter notifies the Senators of our ongoing reviews of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and other NTIA-administered broadband grant programs.

Correspondence

12.12.2022

Calendar Years 2021-2022 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act Evaluation

This announcement memo initiates a joint evaluation of the Department’s actions and capabilities for carrying out the requirements of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.

11.28.2022

FirstNet Authority Could Not Demonstrate Investment Decisions Were the Best Use of Reinvestment Funds or Maximized the Benefits to Public Safety

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority has not established a sound process for selecting opportunities to reinvest funds into the construction, maintenance, operation, and improvement of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.

Report Number OIG-23-005-A

First Responder Network Authority

Audits / Evaluations

11.22.2022

Simulated Internal Cyber Attack Gained Control of Critical Census Bureau Systems

Our evaluation found that the Census Bureau did not have effective cybersecurity in place to protect against our simulated cyberattack.

Report Number OIG-23-004-1

U.S. Census Bureau (Census)

Audits / Evaluations

11.15.2022

Department of Commerce FY 2022 Financial Statements [See pages 52-56 of FY 2022 Agency Financial Report]

This report, found on pp. 52–56 of the Department’s agency financial report, provides the results of our contracted audit of the Department’s FY 2022 financial statements.

Report Number OIG-23-002-A

Office of the Secretary

Audits / Evaluations

11.15.2022

United States Patent and Trademark Office FY 2022 Financial Statements [See pages 93-96 of FY 2022 Agency Financial Report]

This report, found on pp. 93–96 of USPTO’s agency financial report, provides the results of KPMG LLP’s audit of USPTO’s FY 2022 financial statements.

Report Number OIG-23-003-A

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)

Audits / Evaluations