HUD OIG is evaluating HUD’s hiring efficiency.  HUD included improving hiring and human capital functions as a strategic objective in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, and OIG has identified Human Capital as a Top Management Challenge for HUD in FY 2020.

HUD OIG is conducting research to assess the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s information technology (IT) infrastructure’s preparedness and capability to support mass mandatory telework due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). This also included assessing for compliance with HUD information technology policies and Federal information system security requirements.  The CARES Act provided HUD with approximately $12 billion to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and the ability to waive certain requirements.

HUD OIG is auditing the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Home Equity Reverse Mortgage Information Technology (HERMIT) system as part of the internal control assessments required for the fiscal year 2019 financial statement audit under the Chief Financial Officer’s Act of 1990.  HERMIT provides an end-to-end solution (loan origination to disposition) on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) case-processing activities and assists FHA in efficiently managing the HECM portfolio.

HUD OIG has contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to conduct the FHA financial statement audit for the fiscal year(s) ended September 30, 2020, to express an opinion on the financial statements, as well as to report any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, and report on the results of their tests of compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, grant agreements, and other matters, if applicable.

HUD OIG has contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to conduct the Ginnie Mae financial statement audit for the fiscal year(s) ended September 30, 2020, to express an opinion on the financial statements, as well as to report any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, and report on the results of their tests of compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, grant agreements, and other matters, if applicable.

HUD OIG has contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to conduct the HUD consolidated financial statement audit for the fiscal year(s) ended September 30, 2020, to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements, as well as to report any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, and report on the results of their tests of compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, grant agreements, and other matters, if applicable.

HUD OIG is reviewing HUD’s fraud risks identified for funds received from the Coronavirus Aid Recovery and Economic Stability Act for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs.  Our objective will be to gain an understanding of HUD’s fraud risk management practices and the fraud risks HUD has identified for the CDBG and ESG funds appropriated under the CARES Act and develop an inventory of fraud risks not already identified by HUD.

HUD OIG is auditing HUD’s disaster preparedness from 2005 to 2018.  We performed this audit due to an agreement with six other Inspectors General as part of a Disaster Assistance Working Group-Cross Cutting Functional Effort by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to determine to what extent the Federal departments were prepared for upcoming natural disasters.

HUD OIG is auditing rent credits that HUD received from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) during fiscal years 2015 through 2018 in exchange for financial contributions for building improvements.  We initiated this audit due to concerns we identified while completing a review of HUD’s use of funds approved by Congress for building improvements.  Our objective was to determine whether HUD accounted for and managed rent credits, issued by GSA in exchange for HUD’s financial contributions for building improvements, in accordance with applicable requirements.

HUD OIG is reviewing HUD’s grant closeout process.  The Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act was enacted in 2016 and requires Federal agencies to report on certain expired grants and awards, and to take appropriate action to close them out.  The review objectives are to determine whether HUD: (1) established adequate grant closeout processes to ensure compliance with the GONE Act; and, (2) ensured that reports related to its compliance with the GONE Act were accurate.