FLEOA, SSA OIG Conflict Over Purported Oversight Transgressions Continues
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) called on lawmakers to take action against Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) in an October 7, 2021 letter, citing an influx of member concerns regarding “mismanagement” at the SSA OIG. This follows a no confidence vote against Inspector General (IG) Gail Ennis’ and her team due to the implementation of a recent policy analyzing telework productivity and subsequent punitive actions, including termination, among other issues.
With FLEOA representing 90 percent of SSA agents and officers, FLEOA’s National President Larry Cosme announced the vote of no-confidence results against the SSA OIG’s leadership on September 20, 2021. Nearly 98 percent of FLEOA members no longer had confidence in the OIG.
In FLEOA’s initial August 27, 2021 letter, FLEOA President Cosme requested a meeting with the OIG and labor representatives to discuss monitoring procedures and management decisions. The SSA OIG’s September 2, 2021, response evaded FLEOA’s queries and dismissed the concerns of SSA employees.
“I am sure you would agree it is necessary, as stewards of taxpayer dollars, to hold employees accountable, when appropriate,” stated IG Ennis, “Failing to do so would be detrimental to public service, the OIG mission, and the morale of the many employees who go above and beyond in their contributions every day.”
According to IG Ennis, the intention of monitoring employees is to stimulate evidence-based policy promoted in the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) June 10, 2021 memo to develop return-to-work procedures. In July, IG Ennis requested the OIG conduct remote workforce analyses to establish an employee’s efficient or abeyant nature.
“Th[e] complaints are tied in large measure to a work environment that, as reported, has become dysfunctional, derogatory and demeaning,” stated FLEOA President Cosme, “This includes, but, are not limited to a survey of investigator’s computer logs of times online and corresponding telephone records resulting in sanctions and termination actions, though in most cases explainable since an investigators activities aren’t confined to a computer.”
However, FLEOA President Cosme alleged that OIG’s disciplinary actions and terminations lacked mitigating evidence and failed to verify surveys with direct supervisors to prove insubordination. Further, reports of “regressive” safety and training policies for Special Agents subvert operational effectiveness and investigative capacity.
Mary Miller, OIG Senior Counsel, has since stated SSA’s OIG is "continuing our open dialogue with Congress on our oversight and other matters."
Disclosure: Shaw Bransford & Roth provides public affairs services for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. Shaw Bransford & Roth is the parent publisher of FEDagent.