Name: Legislators Call for Better Oversight of USDA Spending After 2022 Audit Shows Millions in ‘Questioned Costs’
Uploaded: 2023-03-10T20:35:54.000Z
Description: Republican and Democrat legislators voiced the need for increased oversight in spending for the U.S. Department of Agriculture<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/legislation/hearings/oversight-hearing-us-department-agriculture-office-inspector-general"> during</a> a hearing on March 9.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Pentagon Scraps Deployment of 4,000 Troops to Poland

9/11 Memorial and Museum Adds 7th Moment of Silence

AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Launch Joint Venture to Tackle Dead Zones

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

Trump Committed to US Defense, Prosperity, Amid China Talks: Expert

Jerome Powell Ends Tenure as Fed Chair

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

California Gubernatorial Candidates Make Closing Pitches to Voters 

House Passes 1st Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Federal Judge Partly Blocks Texas Immigration Law

Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes Plans

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 15)

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 11)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 5)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 4)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Republican and Democrat legislators voiced the need for increased oversight in spending for the U.S. Department of Agriculture<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/legislation/hearings/oversight-hearing-us-department-agriculture-office-inspector-general"> during</a> a hearing on March 9.

In response, representatives from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) illustrated the need for more funding to keep pace with a rapidly expanding series of projects under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This was <a href="https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2022-11/SARC_FY%25202022_Second%2520Half_508.pdf">underscored</a> by more than $305 million in “questioned costs or funds to be put to better use,” 275 arrests for criminal use of funding, and nearly $68 million in recoveries and restitution.

And that was from just six months in the fiscal year (FY) 2022.

Inspector General for the USDA, Phyllis K. Fong, said the troubling findings from OIG audits are precisely why her team needs a bigger budget. She indicated the analysis of federal spending needs to happen quickly, making it easier to police funds and catch irregularities.

“With funding streams like these comes the need for oversight to ensure the programs are serving those for whom the assistance is intended,” Fong said, adding that the USDA received “billions and billions and billions” in pandemic relief, infrastructure, and inflation reduction money within a three-year stretch.

And the OIG is struggling to keep up with the workload of auditing dozens of programs. Fong said it’s challenging to provide “effective oversight,” given the accelerated growth of USDA funding.

The orange crop at one of the Peace River Packing Company groves in Fort Meade, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

<span style="color: #000000;">The USDA budget <a style="color: #000000;" href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2023-usda-budget-summary.pdf">topped</a> out at $218 billion for mandatory and discretionary spending in 2022, with $196 billion on the table for consideration in 2023.</span>

But as the current administration continues pouring money into the USDA, some of it has little to no regulation or oversight. Rep. Andrew Harris (R-Md.) pointed out that President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has zero dollars built into the budget for oversight from the OIG.

But the IRA will <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/02/13/biden-harris-administration-announces-availability-inflation#:~:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20(IRA,Conservation%20Service%20(NRCS)%20implements.">pay out</a> $19.5 billion to the USDA over the next five years.

“That’s not the way we should shepherd tax dollars,” Harris said. “These are not our dollars. They are taxpayer dollars.”

Harris also expressed concern that USDA spending has gotten too cavalier since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the agency has spent billions on program initiatives, but many lacked congressional authorization.

He emphasized that he’s becoming “increasingly concerned” the USDA is “stretching its authorities beyond congressional authorization or intent.”

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) supported the call for greater oversight in spending by the OIG. He pointed to data from 2018 and 2019 OIG <a href="https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/">reports</a> as examples of why federal spending must be monitored closely.

An OIG assessment of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program from 2018 showed the USDA awarded 300 million to applicants who weren’t the best candidates for funding. The auditor’s report also noted a lack of “proper controls” over the program.

In a 2019 Market Facilitation Program assessment, OIG auditors stated producer records often didn’t support the amounts claimed on the applications. The final report estimated that the USDA overpaid 150,313 producers by more than $57 million.

Though despite big budgets, not all that money is making it onto the front lines with America’s farmers.

The insect known as the glassy-winged sharpshooter is a threat to multiple crops in California’s fertile valleys. However, despite increased USDA funding to control this pest through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) says the money isn’t reaching farmers in her district.

“I’m hearing from a lot of farmers that the resources just aren’t there,” Lee said.

Rep. Daniel Newhouse (R-Wash.) also expressed concern over the APHIS program, which he said appears to have little to no control over their programs.

When it comes to dealing with pests on the farm, Newhouse said, “I’m a farmer myself. It’s a constant battle.”

He asked if the OIG could identify what APHIS projects may have fallen “through the cracks,” during the pandemic.

Acting Assistant Inspector General for Audit at the OIG, Steve Rickrode, said collecting the relevant data to audit APHIS has been difficult.

Rickrode indicated APHIS needs more time to streamline its data to cooperate with auditors fully.

“We couldn’t complete some of our audit work,” he said.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/legislators-call-for-better-oversight-of-usda-spending-after-2022-audit-shows-millions-in-questioned-costs_5111396.html">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Videos

Business News

Politics

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

USDA

federal funding

Autumn is a South America-based reporter covering primarily Latin American issues for The Epoch Times.

Autumn Spredemann

Congress

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Legislators Call for Better Oversight of USDA Spending After 2022 Audit Shows Millions in ‘Questioned Costs’

Ross Muscato covers the U.S. Congress for The Epoch Times.

Ross Muscato

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.