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Date Issued

Chief Financial Officer

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2025-FO-0006-002-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Update HUD Handbook 1900.40, Do Not Pay policy, to clearly define the responsibilities for all parties and align it with current laws, processes, and procedures. This should include defining responsibilities for preaward and prepayment verification, and developing a process and governance structure to ensure that preaward and prepayment verification are consistently performed across HUD’s programs.


    Status

    HUD has until August 25, 2025, to provide its corrective action plan to OIG for review.


    Analysis

    Updating the HUD Handbook 1900.40 will define responsible parties for ensuring compliance with the Do Not Pay Initiative (DNP).    

    The implementation of this recommendation will result in consistent use of DNP, allowing for instant verification of eligibility across the billions in payments that HUD processes, resulting in the reduction of future improper payments.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2025-CH-0001-001-B
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Determine the appropriate timeframe for when initial MORs should be completed for all properties that convert under RAD and issue updated guidance that includes a system to track the timeliness of initial MORs.


    Status

    Given current resource constraints, HUD will create guidance based on risk-based Management and Occupancy Review (MOR) parameters to ensure that field staff and leadership perform the initial MOR for PBRA RAD-converted properties. This guidance will specify which assessments can be done on-site or remotely (such as desk reviews). Furthermore, the guidance will require that the existing MOR tracking tools (e.g., PowerApps) be used to monitor planning for the MORs and progress throughout, until final closing of the review. As of July 2025, HUD has completed 233 MORs for the 834 RAD-converted properties. The tool allows HUD staff to filter by the type of conversion (e.g. RAD PIH, RAD PRAC, etc.) as well as other risk indicators (e.g., troubled status), location and servicer (e.g. Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, Resolution Specialist). OIG has concurred with HUD's corrective action plan that it will create guidance to allow for a risk-based approach for completing MORs, which HUD anticipates completing by September 30, 2025.


    Analysis

    To implement this recommendation, HUD needs to provide evidence that it has updated guidance with appropriate timeframe for conducting MORs and a system to track the timeliness of initial MORs.  Failure to determine the timing of the initial MORs could delay HUD's performance of them, which may result in property owners' untimely corrective actions, and thus potentially impact the health and safety of families.

    The implementation of this recommendation has the potential to directly impact the health and safety of families.

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2025-CH-0001-001-C
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Complete the initial MORs for RAD properties that have not had an initial MOR.


    Status

    Given current resource constraints, HUD will create guidance based on risk-based Management and Occupancy Review (MOR) parameters to ensure that field staff and leadership perform the initial MOR for PBRA RAD-converted properties. This guidance will specify which assessments can be done on-site or remotely (such as desk reviews). The guidance will outline the timing requirements for when the initial MOR should be completed.  To date, HUD staff have completed 233 MORs for the 834 RAD-converted properties.  HUD anticipates completing the initial MORs for the remaining 501 properties by the end of 2027. HUD HQ and field staff will use the Power BI MOR tool to track the MOR through the stages: scheduling, review, issuance of report and finally the closing of the report.   As of July 2025, OIG has concurred with HUD's corrective action plan that HUD will begin completing the initial MORs using a risk-based approach.  The target completion date for HUD to demonstrate it is taking corrective action is set for December 31, 2025.


    Analysis

    Completing initial MORs would assist HUD in holding property owners accountable for maintaining the conditions of their properties and sufficient reserve for replacement accounts balances, which could impact property owners' ability to make needed capital repairs.

    The recommended corrective action has the potential to directly impact the health and safety of families.

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2025-CH-0001-001-D
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop and implement a plan to determine how to implement the risk-based approach to review the RAD properties that have not had subsequent MORs in more than 3 years and to require periodic MORs going forward.


    Status

    Given the current resource constraints, HUD will create guidance based on risk-based Management and Occupancy Review (MOR) parameters to ensure that field staff and leadership perform MORs using a risk-based model for PBRA RAD-converted properties. This guidance will specify which assessments can be done on-site or remotely (such as desk reviews) and the timing requirements for when ongoing MORs should be scheduled once the initial MOR is completed. As of July 2025, 641 MORs need to be scheduled for the Office of Asset Management's portfolio of 834 RAD-converted properties. Of those, 85 properties are managed by Performance-Based Contract Administrators (PBCA). Depending on risk indicators for each property, MORs will be scheduled accordingly. HUD reported that its staff resources are limited in comparison to the PBCAs and will therefore take a risk-based approach for prioritizing the MORs that HUD staff must complete.  The Office of Asset Management will develop a plan to address the backlog of RAD-converted MORs using the current risk factors which include the physical condition, last MOR score, financial health of the property and other indicators. The target completion date is December 31, 2025.


    Analysis

    Developing a plan to implement the risk-based approach would establish the criteria for identifying properties that are at a higher risk of noncompliance.  

    The recommended corrective action would help HUD to monitor property owners' compliance with its requirements and thus, potentially protect families from living in unsafe units.

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2025-CH-0001-002-B
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Determine an appropriate timeframe in which non-FHA-insured PBRA properties converted under RAD should be initially inspected, work with REAC to ensure that inspections are ordered and completed within that timeframe, and update HUD’s publicly available and internal guidance to ensure consistent messaging in accordance with HUD’s determination.


    Status

    As of July 2025, Multifamily Housing planned to develop and implement adequate policies, procedures, and controls to ensure non-FHA insured PBRA properties under RAD are inspected within 90 days after the original date of the HAP contract, unless the property has been approved for inspection delay during major rehabilitation, then within 90 days after the end of the approved inspection delay. Further, Multifamily Housing will provide appropriate updated guidance to both internal and external partners relative to non-FHA-insured PBRA properties converted under RAD. The target completion date is September 30, 2025.


    Analysis

    Determining the appropriate timeframe for initial inspections would result in the timely identification and correction of life-threatening and non-life-threatening deficiencies.

    The recommended corrective action has the potential to directly impact the health and safety of families.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2024-CH-0001-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop and implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure that (1) staff issues notices of violation and default within 15 calendar days of the inspection report release date and (2) the Office of Multifamily Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight is made aware when notices are not issued within 15 calendar days after the inspection report release date and takes action as appropriate to ensure that future notices are issued in a timely manner.


    Status

    HUD has implemented a process of sending notifications to the field offices' centralized inboxes when a failed inspection has been released with instructions to issue a Notice of Default or Notice of Violation within 15 days. The field office logs and tracks this task in the Asset Management Processing System (AMPS), including assigning it to an Account Executive. HUD is building a reporting tool to see if the task has been properly entered into iREMS and addresses instances where it has not. However, the construction of this tool has been delayed due to limited staff resources.  As of July 2025, the Office of Multifamily Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight still needed to provide evidence supporting its implementation of the tracking processes.  HUD has not provided an updated target date to complete the agreed upon actions, which had been May 30, 2025.  As of August 14, 2025, HUD closed the recommendation.  OIG is in the process of reviewing the corrective action taken.


    Analysis

    Implementing procedures and controls for the timely issuing of notices would ensure that property owners are held accountable for correcting life-threatening deficiencies in a timely manner thus reducing the risk of families living in units that are unsafe for longer periods.

    The implementation of this recommendation has the potential to directly impact the health and safety of families.

Deputy Secretary

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2024-IG-0001-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    We recommend that the Deputy Secretary Develop and execute a detailed plan and timeline for both testing and reporting estimates of improper payments in the PIH-TBRA and PBRA programs in compliance with Federal law and OMB guidance.


    Status

    In response to the Management Alert, the Deputy Secretary stated that she would provide a plan in 30 days. On April 10, 2024, the Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary for Housing, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing (PIH) stated their respective executives had been working together to develop a plan to accelerate HUD’s ability to produce statistically valid estimates. With respect to PBRA, HUD planned to use ongoing data collection for fiscal year (FY) 2023 tier 1 and tier 2 payments to develop a statistical estimate in FY 2024.

    However, our recent Payment Integrity Information Act audit determined that neither program produced a compliant estimate in fiscal year 2024. For multifamily-PBRA, HUD made some progress and reported an estimate that captured part of the payment cycle; however, the estimate did not include testing to ensure that housing assistance payments from contract administrators to owners were calculated correctly and supported by tenant-level documentation. The PIH-TBRA program did not produce an estimate at all, noting that IT system modernization must occur first.  However, PIH has not yet provided a plan that indicates how the system upgrades will address this issue or a timeline for implementation.  As of July 2025, HUD indicated that under its new leadership team it was making progress, but could not provide specifics about the progress made, a detailed plan or timeline, or a management decision detailing its corrective action plan.  It remains unclear how HUD will produce a complete estimate of the PBRA programs in future years, and when it will be able to produce an estimate for PIH-TBRA.


    Analysis

    For HUD to close this recommendation, it must finish testing the full life cycle of payments in these programs and publicly report estimates of the improper payments in them. Merely producing a plan with future action target dates is not sufficient to meet the spirit of this recommendation.

    PBRA and PIH-TBRA are the two largest program expenditures in HUD's portfolio, totaling $50 billion in FY 24, or 62.4 percent of HUD's total expenditures. HUD has been challenged with developing a compliant sampling methodology that can test the full payment cycle and that can be executed within the required timeframes. To fully address this recommendation, the sampling methodology should test the full payment cycle, and the associated sample testing and statistical estimation must be completed in time to be included in the Annual Financial Report.

    Implementation of this recommendation will result in HUD better-safeguarding taxpayer dollars and decrease improper payments.

Public and Indian Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2023-CH-0004-002-C
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop and implement a nationwide protocol for field offices, describing how PHA self-inspections should be reviewed, based on REAC's determination of the number and frequency of PHA self-inspections.


    Status

    HUD closed this recommendation in August 2024, an action which HUD OIG disagrees with. HUD provided guidance for field office staff to send to PHAs with NSPIRE inspections that scored below 60 points. However, HUD did not provide a protocol detailing how it would receive and review PHAs' self-inspections for compliance with HUD requirements. Therefore, HUD has not fully addressed the gap in controls identified in the audit that hinders HUD's oversight over PHA self-inspections. OIG will continue to seek clarification from HUD on the implementation and closure of this recommendation.  However, as of July 2025, HUD has not provided any additional documentation.


    Analysis

    To fully resolve this recommendation, HUD needs to provide a policy or procedure that provides guidance to the field offices on how public housing self-inspections should be reviewed for compliance with its requirements.

    Implementation of this recommendation will result in public housing units that are decent, safe, and sanitary because it mandates oversight to ensure PHAs are addressing identified deficiencies.

Public and Indian Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2023-CH-0003-001-B
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Implement adequate policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that public housing properties will be inspected within required timeframes.


    Status

    As of July 2025, according to HUD, all development and enhancement of the NSPIRE software system are presently on hold pending Administrative guidance on HUD funded software system improvements.  Additionally, the required software changes recommended under this finding depend on the final Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) rule, but most regulatory work has been paused for review per Executive Order from the Administration.  Pending the required resources and funding approval, HUD cannot move forward at this time.  According to HUD, it has planned for and proposed the needed improvements to meet this recommendation and will provide updates when available.  The current final action target date is September 30, 2025.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence demonstrating that it has implemented control activities that ensure public housing properties are inspected within the required timeframes.

    Implementation of this recommendation will result in HUD accurately tracking the dates on which public housing properties should be inspected and that they are timely completed.

    Due to the uncertainty of when software changes to NSPIRE can take place to enforce the timing of inspections, REAC cannot enforce the requirements of inspection timing.

Chief Financial Officer

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2023-FO-0001-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Perform a complete agency-wide fraud risk assessment (which incorporates the fraud risk assessments performed at the program level) and use the results to develop and implement an agency-wide plan to move HUD’s fraud risk management program out of the ad hoc phase.


    Status

    As of July 2025, HUD has cancelled its fraud risk management contracts and the Chief Risk Officer position was vacated under the Deferred Resignation Program.  HUD is currently working to realign its business process and determining how it will address fraud risk management.  While HUD had made progress in improving its fraud risk management program, as of July 2025, HUD has not provided an updated plan on how it will complete an agency-wide fraud risk assessment and undertake office-specific risk programs.  The final action target date was September 30, 2024.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that it has performed an agency-wide fraud risk assessment performed at the program level, adopted and implemented its fraud risk assessment program departmental policy, and that each HUD program office has established office-specific risk programs.

Public and Indian Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2023-CH-0001-001-B
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Require the REAC in coordination with OFO to determine the number of developments and associated units that contain lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.


    Status

    In May 2023, HUD published a final rule establishing a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality: The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE).  Public Housing regulations were amended, and Public Housing program participants were required to comply with this final rule and use the NSPIRE standards starting July 1, 2023.  The Real Estate Assessment Center and Office of Field Operations will collaborate with the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, the Office of Policy Development and Research, and a statistician to evaluate data collected under the NSPIRE inspection program to estimate the number of public housing developments and associated units that contain lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards. As of November 2024, PIH reported that inspections have had a slow start due to procurement delays. Additionally, the NSPIRE system did not get the requested functionality to collect lead inspections.   As of July 2025, HUD is conducting an inventory of the properties that are missing lead-based paint inspections.  Once all the inspections have been received and uploaded into the NSPIRE system, it will use the information to estimate the number of public housing developments and associated units that contain lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.  Among other factors, based on current legislative requirements of unit inspection cycle, HUD estimates that it will collect the lead-based paint inspection reports for final properties by December 31, 2028.  Therefore, with OIG concurrence, HUD has revised the final action target date to February 2, 2029, to fully implement the recommendation.


    Analysis

    To address this recommendation, HUD will need to provide evidence that it collected and evaluated data under NSPIRE and estimated the number of public housing developments and associated units that contain lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.

    Implementation of this recommendation will assist HUD in working with PHAs to address the public housing units that contain lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards and help HUD’s oversight of units in need of hazard reduction.

Lead Hazard Control

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2023-IG-0001-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Update applicable requirements to require assisted property owners, including PHAs, to maintain adequate documentation to support their determinations that maintenance and hazard reduction activities that disturb surfaces with lead-based paint qualify for the de minimis exemption from the lead-safe work practices under the Lead Safe Housing Rule.


    Status

    To address this recommendation, The Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) agreed to:                                                                                                                    

    1. Issue a notice to assisted target housing owners and public housing agencies on the de minimis exception citing the correct application of the de minimis threshold; describing appropriate documentation methods for the application of the de minimis threshold; and recommendations of best practices for documenting applications.
    2. Collect additional data regarding the use of the de minimis threshold, including information on how private and public housing owners: (a) determine how much paint in target housing will be disturbed during a maintenance or rehabilitation project; (b) use the paint disturbance area information; (c) monitor the amount of paint disturbed in projects that are designed to disturb de minimis amounts of paint in target housing.
    3. Design and conduct webinars, including at least one for each program office’s major categories of stakeholders on requirements and best practices pertaining to the de minimis exception under the Lead Safe Housing Rule and its implementation; record the webinars on the HUD website (e.g., on HUD Exchange) for future viewing by stakeholders; and conduct outreach promoting the webinars. 
    The OLHCHH had drafted guidance on the de minimis exception to the Lead Safe Housing Rule for PIH, Multifamily Housing, and CPD and submitted it through the clearance process in September 2024.  As of July 2025, OLHCHH continues to revise the draft guidance in consideration of the comments it received during the clearance review process. HUD did not provide an updated target date to complete the agreed upon actions, which had been January 31, 2024.


    Analysis

    To implement this recommendation, HUD needs to provide evidence that it has implemented the three actions OLHCHH agreed to complete.
     

    Implementation of this recommendation and associated corrective actions will ensure assisted property owners are sufficiently informed regarding the requirements to support their determinations that maintenance and hazard reduction activities that disturb surfaces with lead-based paint qualify for the de minimis exemption from the lead-safe work practices under the Lead Safe Housing Rule and that assisted property owners are conducting this work safely, thereby ensuring households are residing in safe and healthy HUD-assisted housing.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2021-KC-0004-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop a comprehensive process to ensure that complaints received by HUD’s Multifamily Housing Clearinghouse are resolved in a timely manner.


    Status

    In October 2023, the Office of Multifamily Housing reported that it had sought funding for system enhancements to coordinate tenant complaints. HUD is transitioning the Multifamily Clearinghouse responsibilities to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Resource Center. The FHA Resource Center has a system that will allow tracking and monitoring of customer calls. As of July 11, 2025, the Office of Multifamily Housing requested the closure of this recommendation because it did not receive the requested funding from Congress for system enhancements, and it believes there is no prospect of future funding. Further, its alternative action of using the FHA Resource Center to track and monitor customer calls did not work. Developing a comprehensive process for intaking, monitoring, and tracking health and safety complaints would require a system enhancement or creation of a new system, and HUD has repeatedly attempted to obtain funding from Congress to no avail. OIG is in the process of collaborating with HUD on finding a potential corrective action to resolve the recommendation.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD needs to develop a comprehensive process to ensure that complaints received by HUD are resolved in a timely manner.

    Implementation of this recommendation will result in a timelier resolution of complaints submitted by those living in multifamily member housing units.

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2021-KC-0004-001-B
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop agencywide policies and procedures for the intake, monitoring, and tracking of health and safety complaints.


    Status

    In October 2023, HUD stated that it will develop policies and procedures for Multifamily properties for the intake, monitoring, and tracking of health and safety complaints it receives. The Office of Multifamily Housing has not yet updated its policies and procedures. With no comprehensive, automated, real-time system in place, there was no direction to give the field staff, Multifamily Clearinghouse, or the Performance Based Contract Administrators other than what they were already doing. HUD was in the process of developing an automated monitoring system in the FHA resource center to allow tracking of individual calls and the call’s subject, such as health and safety. HUD missed the final action target date of December 31, 2022, and a new completion goal was set for February 2025.  As of July 14, 2025, HUD is seeking closure for this recommendation due to unavailability of funds. HUD stated that its issuance of policies and procedures for a comprehensive process was contingent on the development of a tracking system for the complaint process, for which it has repeatedly requested funding from Congress to no avail. OIG is in the process of collaborating with HUD on finding a potential corrective action to resolve outstanding concerns.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that it has developed and implemented policies and procedures for the Multifamily properties for the intake, monitoring, and tracking of health and safety complaints it receives when using the FHA’s automated monitoring system.

    Implementation of this recommendation will result in HUD having a more efficient process for taking in, monitoring, and tracking health and safety complaints and aid HUD in more efficiently addressing those complaints.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2020-CH-0005-001-A
    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop and implement an action plan that includes sufficient policies, procedures, and controls that address households living in multifamily housing units having a sufficient supply of safe drinking water […]


    Status

    In April 2022, HUD created draft standard operating procedures to address lead in the water of its multifamily housing units. On May 11, 2023, HUD published its National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) regulations that addressed lead in the water. Further, on June 30, 2023, HUD published its Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate Administrative Procedures, which requires property owners and agents to provide information about water supply providers and water safety alerts, if applicable, prior to the commencement of a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspection. As a result, the Office of Multifamily Housing is revising its procedures and consulting with the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH). As of July 2025, the Office of Multifamily has developed standard operating procedures for its field office staff and plans to issue additional guidance to HUD staff and multifamily property owners on addressing lead in the water for multifamily properties. Although the final action target date has passed, the guidance is undergoing HUD's internal review clearance process. However, HUD did not provide an estimated date for issuance of guidance to close the recommendation.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, the Office of Multifamily Housing must provide evidence of an action plan or policy that includes procedures to ensure households living in multifamily units have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

    Implementation of this recommendation will enable HUD to have sufficient oversight and control activities in place to ensure households living in multifamily housing have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2019-KC-0003-001-A
    $6,130,757,970
    Funds Put to Better Use

    Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.

    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Require lenders to obtain the borrowers’ consent to verify the existence of delinquent Federal taxes with the IRS during loan origination and deny any applicant with delinquent Federal tax debt and no payment plan or a noncompliant payment plan or an applicant refusing to provide consent from receiving FHA insurance to put at least $6.1 billion to better use by avoiding potential future costs to the FHA insurance fund.


    Status

    HUD's Office of Single Family Housing will need additional tax information to complete the planned action. As of July 2025, HUD was seeking closure of the recommendation, stating that the delinquent Federal tax debt information is not systematically available since the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot disclose it for this non-tax administration need and use under current regulations. HUD also maintains that without an automated solution from the IRS, it is not practical for individual borrowers and/or lenders to manually check tax status with the IRS. OIG disagreed with HUD's request for closure and its position is that action is required since delinquent tax debtors are ineligible for FHA loans under existing FHA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines. HUD has other opportunities to address the recommendation, which would help put at least $6.1 billion to better use by ensuring that Federal tax delinquencies are appropriately reviewed during loan origination.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD will need to provide evidence that it established a method of borrower consent to verify the existence of delinquent federal taxes including, but not limited to one of the options OIG provided, which were (1) lenders obtaining the borrowers' consent to obtain their tax records directly from the IRS or (2) borrowers accessing their own tax information and submitting it to the lenders.

    Implementation of this rule should result in HUD putting $6.1 billion to better use.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2018-LA-0007-001-A
    $413,513,975
    Funds Put to Better Use

    Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.

    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Implement a change to regulations at 24 CFR Part 203 to require curtailment of preforeclosure interest and other costs that are caused by lender servicing delays, resulting in $413,513,975 in funds to be put to better use. This should include updating or seeking statutory authority to update HUD’s regulations as necessary and coordinating with HUD’s Office of Finance and Budget, well before any changes go through departmental clearance, to ensure that planned curtailment requirements can be consistently enforced through the claims process.


    Status

    FHA reported that the audit recommendation cannot be closed without the publication of the FHA Maximum Claim Rule.  The proposed changes have been on HUD’s regulatory agenda since Spring 2020 but, as of July 2025, the Office of Single Family Housing does not have an estimated publication date.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that it has published and adopted the rule.

    Implementation of this rule should result in HUD putting $413 million to better use.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2018-KC-0001-001-A
    $1,905,340,944
    Funds Put to Better Use

    Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.

    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Develop a method for using the Do Not Pay portal during the underwriting process to identify delinquent child support and delinquent Federal debt to prevent future FHA loans to ineligible borrowers to put $1.9 billion to better use.


    Status

    The Office of Housing has approved prioritization of funding for Integration between the Treasury’s Do Not Pay portal and HUD’s Computerized Homes Underwriting Reporting System (CHUMS). Funding was allocated to the CHUMS IT contractor on January 26, 2024, to integrate Treasury’s Do Not Pay system with CHUMS, and the IT development project was kicked off the week of February 5, 2024.  As of July 2025, the CHUMS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) with DNP is fully signed. However, the System of Records Notice (SORN) is under review with OMB.  HUD's Office of Privacy is in the process of reaching out to OMB to request comments or permission to publish. The anticipated completion date of the CHUMS interface with DNP is December 31, 2025.

    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that it has implemented applicant screening against the Do Not Pay portal to identify delinquent child support and delinquent federal debt to prevent future FHA loans from going to ineligible borrowers.

    Implementation of this rule should result in HUD putting $1.9 billion to better use.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2017-KC-0001-001-A
    $2,238,721,464
    Funds Put to Better Use

    Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.

    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Issue a change to regulations at 24 CFR Part 203, which would avoid unnecessary costs to the FHA insurance fund, allowing an estimated $2.23 billion to be put to better use. These changes include (1) a maximum period for filing insurance claims and (2) disallowance of expenses incurred beyond established timeframes.


    Status

    The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) reported that the recommendation cannot be closed out without the publication of the FHA Maximum Claim Rule. The proposed changes have been on HUD’s regulatory agenda since Spring 2020 but, as of July 2025, the Office of Single Family Housing does not have an estimated publication date.


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must publish the FHA Maximum Claim Rule.

    Implementation of this rule should result in HUD putting $2.23 billion to better use.

Housing

  •  
    Status
      Open
      Closed
    2014-KC-0002-001-B
    $9,501,619
    Funds Put to Better Use

    Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.

    Prioridad
    Priority

    We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

    Update selection rules for CAIVRS to provide for complete reporting of all ineligible borrowers to put $9.5 million to better use.


    Status

    In 2020, HUD suspended reporting delinquencies and defaults to the Credit Alert Verification Reporting System (CAIVRS) because these debts are owed to the lender and are not delinquent federal debt.  A debt is not delinquent until payment is overdue to HUD for a deficiency judgment against the borrower in connection with an FHA claim.  Rather than add the missing borrowers to CAIVRS, the Office of Single Family Housing directed HUD’s National Servicing Center to cease including borrower creditworthiness information in CAIVRS and to solely use the system to report deficiency judgments until the delinquent debt is resolved.  HUD provided the Interface Control Document showing what data is sent to CAIVRS related to deficiency judgments.  As of July 2025, OIG is seeking clarification on HUD's implementation and closure of the recommendation because it is not clear whether all deficiency judgments are now being reported in CAIVRS until resolved.  HUD OIG disagrees with the closure of this recommendation until HUD provides evidence that the system updates have been implemented and that they provide complete reporting of all ineligible borrowers.
     


    Analysis

    To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that all deficiency judgments are reported in CAIVRS until resolved.

    Implementation of this recommendation should result in HUD putting $9.5 million to better use.