Today, Michael E. Horowitz, Chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), announced the release of the PRAC’s Semiannual Report to Congress. The report covers the period from October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022. This is our fourth Semiannual Report to Congress since the PRAC was created in March 2020.
Read highlights from the report.
The report is required by the CARES Act and summarizes our work during the first half of FY22. The report updates Congress on our efforts to promote transparency and ensure coordinated oversight of more than $5 trillion in pandemic relief. The report is a resource for the public, the press, and federal, state, and local policymakers, with information on the PRAC's updated organizational structure, progress towards our strategic goals, and the support we have provided to the oversight community.
The report contains summaries of the 79 oversight reports related to the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response issued by 29 Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) in the reporting period, categorized by four key insights:
- Increasing Fraud Controls and Managing Risk,
- The Impact of Incomplete Data on Agency Leadership Decision-Making,
- Improving Service Performance and Reform, and
- Assessing Efforts to Use and Expand Remote Work Capabilities.
The report also highlights OIGs’ support to law enforcement pursuing fraud investigations and criminal enforcement. During the reporting period, a total of 20 OIGs publicly reported arrests, indictments, and convictions related to the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
During the reporting period for this Semiannual Report to Congress, the PRAC continued to fulfill its mandate of:
- promoting transparency by publicly reporting accessible and comprehensive pandemic relief spending data;
- collaborating across the oversight community to identify cross-cutting issues and risks;
- detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement of relief spending through leading-edge data insights and analytic tools; and
- holding wrongdoers accountable by marshaling the investigative and analytic resources of the oversight community.
Read the full report to learn more about the PRAC’s achievements from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
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The PRAC was established by the CARES Act to promote transparency and support independent oversight of the funds provided by the CARES Act and other related emergency spending bills. In addition to its coordination and oversight responsibilities, the PRAC is tasked with supporting efforts to “prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement [and] mitigate major risks that cut across program and agency boundaries.”
If you have additional questions, please contact Lisa Reijula at lisa.reijula@cigie.gov.