EPA’s charge card program at ‘high risk’ for abuse

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

In today’s Top Federal Headlines, the Government Accountability Office says the Environmental Protection Agency is not making use of the proper internal controls to oversee its Purchase Card and Convenience Check Program.

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s Purchase Card and Convenience Check Program is at high risk for abuse. EPA’s inspector general completes an assessment of the program mandated by the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012. Of the 18 transactions it looked at, none complied with all of the proper internal controls, like senior approval and proper documentation. (Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General)

• With reports the EPA budget could be cut by 25 percent, agency leaders look to reassure worried employees. In memos obtained by Federal News Radio, EPA senior officials acknowledged reports of a 20 percent cut to personnel was creating stress and anxiety, but it is too early in the budget process to know the final outcome for workers. (Federal News Radio)

• Congress could have more oversight over the Homeland Security Department’s major acquisition programs. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) introduced the Reducing DHS Acquisition Cost Growth Act. It would hold DHS more accountable in managing big acquisition projects at Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA. It’s an attempt to fix cost overruns and scheduling delays. The Government Accountability said 20 out of 22 DHS projects had those problems in 2015. (Rep. John Rutherford)

• The Securities and Exchange Commission is a step closer to having a permanent chairman. Walter Jay Clayton, a partner at the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell, is cleared of financial conflicts of interest by the Office of Government Ethics. The Wall Street Journal reports OGE looked at Clayton’s wife’s employment at Goldman Sachs, and Clayton’s own history of advising the company. Now his financial disclosures head to Congress, clearing the Senate to schedule confirmation hearings.

• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wants agencies to explain how they’re implementing whistleblower protections. She writes to the Homeland Security, Commerce, Interior, and State Departments for more information. Her letters come as the Government Accountability Office said not all agencies are including the right whistleblower clauses in their contractors and other written materials. McCaskill wants an update by the end of the month. (Sen. Claire McCaskill)

• GSA and NGA launch a partnership to make satellite imagery easier to buy. The growth of the satellite imagery market is pushing the General Services Administration and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency to consider opening up a special place on the multiple award schedules. GSA and NGA issued a request for information asking for industry to comment on what products and services should be included in an Earth Observation Solutions special item number or SIN. GSA said the new SIN potentially would make it easier for agencies to buy geospatial earth observation imagery, data, services and capabilities from one place. Comments on the RFI are due March 8. (FedBizOpps)

• The Chief of Naval Operations asks senior leadership to use more discretion when talking about war capabilities. A memo sent out by Adm. John Richardson told officers and senior civilians to keep the Navy’s competitive edge by carefully choosing what information to divulge publicly. The memo states Richardson still wants leadership to engage with the public.

• Honorably discharged veterans will soon be able to use one of the benefits current military members enjoy. Starting this upcoming Veterans Day, Nov. 11, they’ll be able to shop with online military exchanges. Navy Exchange Service Command CEO Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi said it’s a way to thank veterans and expand the exchanges’ customer base. (Navy)

• The Marine Corps said it’s investigating allegations that its troops used a social media group to share nude photos of fellow servicemembers. The private Facebook group’s existence was first reported over the weekend by military blog The War Horse and the Center for Investigative Reporting. More than two dozen women’s photos, names and ranks were posted in just the last month. Google and Facebook have shut down several accounts behind the postings, but the group has thousands of members, including several hundred active-duty Marines. (Reveal News)

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