Stimulus

States Snag $240M to Combat Unemployment Fraud

The federal grant funding can be used to pay for identity verification services, cybersecurity, or other expenses related to fraud detection.

  • By Andrea Noble

IG: SBA’s Cybersecurity ‘Not Effective,’ In Part Due to COVID

The pandemic created new cybersecurity problems for the Small Business Administration, according to the agency’s annual FISMA report.

  • By Aaron Boyd

New Treasury Office Will Oversee Covid Relief and Recovery Programs

Billions in state and local government aid is part of the office's portfolio.

  • By Bill Lucia

Congress Gave OMB $1B for IT Upgrades. Now It Wants to Know How It Will Be Spent

Lawmakers want to know which projects will get prioritized and which will be recused from repaying the fund.

  • By Aaron Boyd

President Biden: COVID Relief Needs ‘Fastidious Oversight’

The American Rescue Plan is the latest in the federal government’s historic pandemic spending. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Draft Senate COVID Relief Bill Includes $1B for Technology Modernization Fund

The fund gets a second chance at a boost after a $9 billion proposal didn’t make it to the House-passed bill.

  • By Frank Konkel

IG: ‘Tens of Billions’ in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims in 2020

A Labor Department Inspector General memo suggests a massive uptick in fraudulent unemployment claims brought on by COVID-19.

  • By Frank Konkel

Americans Still Need a Lifeline Despite Trillions in Coronavirus Aid

About two-thirds of families that suffered job losses or reduced wages during the pandemic still reported facing serious financial hardship.

  • By Mary G. Findling, John M. Benson and Robert J. Blendon, The Conversation

Biden-Harris Admin Proposes $10B in New IT and Cyber Funding for Federal Agencies

The administration wants to add $9 billion to the Technology Modernization Fund and give CISA a boost.

  • By Aaron Boyd

SBA Relaunches COVID Loan Program As Watchdog Warns About Possible Fraud 

The recent COVID relief package included funding for a third round of the program, which has come under much scrutiny. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Nine Major Takeaways From the Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Packages

Funding boosts and hiring pushes are coming for many federal agencies.

  • By Eric Katz

Transportation IG to Examine Security of Financial Systems Dispersing CARES Act Funds

A new audit will hone in on the security controls of systems being used at the Federal Transportation Department. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

Pandemic-Fighting Supercomputer Gains Upgrade through Coronavirus Relief Funds

And boosts to other U.S. supercomputing systems are likely on the horizon. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

IRS Leader Defends Agency’s Stimulus Check Performance

Lawmakers questioned whether lagging IT modernization efforts caused delays or missing financial relief payments for some Americans.

  • By Mila Jasper
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Oversight Democrats Want at Least $1B for Technology Upgrades in Next Relief Bill 

Lawmakers make the case that the funding should be included in any coronavirus relief package that comes to a vote to help address IT systems struggling due to surge in demand. 

  • By Mariam Baksh

Industry Group Urges Congress to Extend CARES Clause to Reimburse Government Contractors

The Professional Services Council called on Congress to extend Section 3610 authority in order to sustain the contracting workforce in a letter to leadership Thursday. 

  • By Mila Jasper

Coronavirus Fraudsters Keep Prosecutors Busy

State AGs track millions in false loan and unemployment claims.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Senate Passes Bill to End Payments to Dead People

The bill follows an audit that found the IRS sent $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to deceased individuals.

  • By Frank Konkel

Pandemic Oversight Committee Launches Contract Spending Tracker

The committee had stated in its first report that financial management could be a top challenge for agencies. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Weeding Out Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Just Became More Difficult

Millions of out-of-work Americans are filing for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic and fraudsters are using the unprecedented crush of filings to take advantage.

  • By Andrea Noble

Senators Make Bipartisan Push to Expedite Hiring for Workers to Oversee Pandemic Response

Measure would ensure special investigator has proper resources in light of Trump's recent IG firing spree, senator says.

  • By Eric Katz