White House Aims to Ensure Transparency, Proper Oversight of Infrastructure Funds
Renzo Velez | POGO
The White House intends to ensure accountability, efficiency, and transparency, as federal agencies implement the bipartisan $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117–58).
To maintain minimal fraud and abuse during the development and execution stages, the White House has instituted both technical and financial assistance, as well as ensured the collaboration with Inspectors General (IG) and the oversight community.
Measurable Results
A set of guidelines issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last week further clarified this narrative, emphasizing the importance of appropriate oversight to ensure public trust in the federal government.
The memo directs agencies to develop a process and cross-functional team for implementing the infrastructure act, including chief information officers, chief data officers, chief information security officers, and other senior officials. As well as an implementation coordinator, agencies must designate an accountable senior official to oversee development.
OMB, the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force, and the White House Infrastructure Implementation Team will consult agencies on their plans.
Directions include analyzing data and evidence to design programs; ensuring that programs are lawful; documenting reviews and selections of discretionary grants; collaborating with IGs, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.
Collaboration
Last December, OMB released guidance directing agency leaders to support the important role of agency IGs, including informing staff of the President's expectation of cooperation between IG offices. Consistent with this agency-IG cooperation guidance, the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force has regularly met with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), agencies heads with infrastructure responsibilities, and agency IGs.
The newly issued guidance instructs agencies to continue this collaboration with direction on conducting joint program reviews with IGs, consulting with IGs early in the development process, and assessing and mitigating risks.
“I want to know where the—where the money is—technically, it can be spent, but it may be the lowest priority in terms of safety for the bridges. And it goes across the board in everything we’re doing here,” stated President Joe Biden in remarks to IGs on April 29, “So, the strong oversight is in how we’re going to deliver for the American people on time and on budget and making sure the investments we get to where they’re supposed to go.”
The standard for the White House is the American Rescue Plan and the efforts of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC). This “Gold Standard” approach has enhanced proactive and transparent collaboration leading to measurable outcomes. To continue this innovation, OMB urges agency leadership to notify the IGs when new risks are anticipated, such as the introduction of new programs, expanding access to services, or leveraging new technology.
Sean Moulton, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, praised the administration for involving the IGs early to prevent improper payments and support new recipients.
“There’s a lot of really good stuff here and I’m extremely happy that the White House is trying to incorporate some of the lessons learned on some of the COVID spending and avoid some of the missteps that were made,” Moulton stated.
In other areas, Moulton said the guidance did not go far enough. Specifically, agencies need a clear statement of what they must include in award descriptions, as is further oversight regarding reporting on sub-awards. Moulton suggested incorporating these items in future iterations of guidance.