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Accountability Wednesday, September 30, 2026
News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation
In our news wrap Wednesday, the Federal Reserve's Inspector General found no criminal activity by former Chair Jerome Powell related to the renovation of the central bank's headquarters, Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will cut the number of its generals and admirals by roughly 20% and…
‘Creating a One-Party System’: Conservatives Warn of Consequences and Need to Counter Left’s Weaponization of Legal System
Conservatives are pushing back against the Left’s effort to discipline lawyers for the clients they represent, in what is being called “barfare,” with threats of disbarment or other actions. During a conference Wednesday near Capitol Hill on the topic, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., praised the effort…
Fed watchdog finds no crimes in $2.4B building renovation, only mismanagement
The Federal Reserve’s internal watchdog says that the central bank has broadly mismanaged an expansive building renovation project but did not find any criminal violations, as alleged by Trump administration prosecutors
Watchdog group sues DHS for records to back claims that 250,000 noncitizens are registered to vote
The watchdog group American Oversight sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday after the agency failed to turn over records to support DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s claim that 250,000 non-U.S. citizens had registered to vote across four states. The group had made Freedom of…
Trump administration files complaint against judges over media comments
Seven Minnesota judges face ethics complaint after speaking publicly about US president's immigration crackdown.
Lawmakers press regulators to reject AES acquisition
A bipartisan group of lawmakers urged federal regulators to block the multibillion-dollar sale of power company AES, warning the deal could raise electricity costs for utility customers to benefit data centers. In a Sept. 28 letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Laura Swett…
Fed watchdog finds renovation failures, but no grounds for criminal referral
The long-awaited report by the Fed's inspector general said it found no reasonable grounds to believe federal criminal law had been violated.
Fed blasted by top watchdog over ‘mismanaged’ $2.5B ‘Palace of Versailles’ HQ work
An Inspector General review detailed massive cost overruns, mismanagement and contracting failures at the Fed's DC offices.
Trump’s new Education IG nominee continues dizzying run of leadership changes at the watchdog office
Mark Priebe — the nominee, who recently served as acting inspector general at the Education Department — has defended the president’s mass firing of inspectors general and appears to have supported Trump on social media.
The FDA Promises To Streamline the Dauntingly Complex Rules for Approving Nicotine Products
The planned reforms could promote harm reduction by addressing a huge backlog that has resulted in routine violations of a statutory deadline.
Trump Administration Awards $21.2M to the Village of Winnetka, Illinois to Reduce Local Flooding
Trump Administration Awards $21.2M to the Village of Winnetka, Illinois to Reduce Local Flooding Trump Administration Awards $21.2M to the Village of Winnetka, Illinois to Reduce Local Flooding CHICAGO – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a $21.2 million grant to the village…
FEMA Awards $648 Million to More than 1,600 Fire Departments and Other First Responder Organizations Nationwide
FEMA Awards $648 Million to More than 1,600 Fire Departments and Other First Responder Organizations Nationwide Grant funding will increase local capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies WASHINGTON – Over the past week, FEMA awarded $648 million in grant funding to more than 1,600 fire…
Voluntary ratepayer protection bill blocked in Senate again
A bipartisan bill aimed at pressuring state utility regulators to reduce data center-related costs stalled in the Senate again Wednesday after a procedural vote to take up the bill fell short of the 60 supporters needed to move forward. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed was 57-43, keeping…
19-year-old threatens to jump off Williamsburg Bridge — before NYPD hoists him to safety
A teen precariously perched himself on the ledge of the Williamsburg Bridge, looking to jump, before heroic NYPD cops hoisted him to safety Wednesday, authorities said.
DOJ files misconduct complaint against federal judges in Minnesota
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the Justice Department had filed a judicial misconduct complaint against federal judges in Minnesota after they spoke with the New York Times.
Alaska Survivors: There’s Still Time to Appeal FEMA’s Decision
Alaska Survivors: There’s Still Time to Appeal FEMA’s Decision ANCHORAGE, Alaska – If you’ve received a determination letter from FEMA regarding your disaster assistance and disagree, there’s still time to appeal. This may not be the final decision as FEMA may simply require more information or…
OMB violated Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act with $1 billion rescission
GAO says OMB’s actions subvert both the constitutional process and Congress’s power of the purse.
Panola County, Texas, Flood Maps Become Final
Panola County, Texas, Flood Maps Become Final DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on March 30, 2027, for Panola County, Texas. During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and…
No criminal wrongdoing in Federal Reserve building renovation, watchdog says, but it was mismanaged
The Federal Reserve's internal watchdog said Wednesday that the agency has broadly mismanaged an expansive building renovation project but did not find any criminal violations, as alleged by Trump administration prosecutors.
GAO Report on the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program
The following is the Sept. 25, 2026, Government Accountability Office report, Naval Shipyards: Complete Information Needed for Decision-Making on Multibillion-Dollar, 50-Year Infrastructure Program. From the Report The Navy is taking on its largest-ever construction and restoration effort to…
Disaster Assistance Center Opens October 1
Disaster Assistance Center Opens October 1 Oglala Sioux Tribe members affected by severe storms, straight line winds and flooding that occurred June 2-4, 2026 can apply for disaster assistance beginning Thursday, October 1. Applications are being taken in-person at the FEMA/Tribal disaster…
DOJ OIG Closes Two Priority Recommendations, Designates Two New Priorities
DOJ OIG Closes Two Priority Recommendations, Designates Two New Priorities mbarnes Wed, 09/30/2026 - 13:31 The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced today that it has closed two recommendations that it had designated as priorities: one recommendation to the…
Fed Watchdog Finds No Crimes In $2.4 Billion Renovation, Just Everything Else
Fed Watchdog Finds No Crimes In $2.4 Billion Renovation, Just Everything Else After more than a year of drama, subpoenas, surprise site visits, hard-hat photo ops and one very public fight over beehives, the Fed's internal watchdog has finally weighed in on the central bank's headquarters…
Watchdog finds no criminality in Fed renovation that drew Trump’s scrutiny
The Federal Reserve’s watchdog said it found no grounds to believe federal law was violated in a project that drew criticism from President Donald Trump.
FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Pima County, Arizona
FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Pima County, Arizona Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has delivered preliminary flood maps for Pima County and the Town of Marana, Arizona. The maps identify revised flood hazards within Brawley Wash, Black Wash, Altar Wash, and Brawley…
Trump Administration Provides Additional $11 Million for Disaster Case Management Services for Palisades Fire and California Storm Survivors
Trump Administration Provides Additional $11 Million for Disaster Case Management Services for Palisades Fire and California Storm Survivors New funding continues support for Palisades Fire survivors and communities recovering from severe storms OAKLAND, Calif. – Today, FEMA announced an…
New critique of offshore wind clawbacks: Taxpayers lose out
The Trump administration’s buyouts of offshore wind leaseholders to stifle the nascent clean energy projects have drawn plenty of criticism from Democrats and environmental groups. Now comes a new argument from a nonpartisan watchdog group: Taxpayers are taking it on the chin from the…
Audit of the Office of Justice Programs Victim Assistance Funds Subawarded by the Oregon Department of Justice to the Center for Hope and Safety, Salem, Oregon
Audit of the Office of Justice Programs Victim Assistance Funds Subawarded by the Oregon Department of Justice to the Center for Hope and Safety, Salem, Oregon */ mbarnes Wed, 09/30/2026 - 10:00 Posted Date September 30, 2026 Report Number 26-105 Component Office of Justice Programs External…
Fraud in Federal Programs: Limited Beneficial Ownership Information Available on Awardees
What GAO Found Illicit actors hide their beneficial ownership in multiple ways to fraudulently access federal awards, such as contracts, grants, and Medicare payments, and to evade payment on taxes. GAO’s review of federal cases highlights tactics illicit actors have used, such as using stolen…
Fraud Is The Inevitable Result Of Democrats’ Marxist Politics
Although voters have every reason to grumble about affordability, they should not be fooled into thinking that putting Democrats into office will fix anything.
Supplemental Material for GAO-25-107721: Summary of Key Changes in the 2025 Green Book Revision
This is a supplement to GAO’s 2025 revision of the Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government, known as the Green Book, GAO-25-107721. The 2025 revision contained changes from, and supersedes, the 2014 revision of the Green Book, GAO-14-704G. The purpose of this supplement is to…
Director of National Intelligence: Status of Open GAO Recommendations
What GAO Found GAO has made 139 recommendations to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from July 2011 through September 15, 2026. These recommendations address issues with intelligence enterprise management, infrastructure and facilities, workforce management, and personnel vetting. As of…
VA Health Care: Prevalence Information Needed to Better Understand and Address Harassment Involving Veterans
What GAO Found The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a policy to end harassment-related behaviors—including harassment of a non-sexual nature, sexual harassment, and sexual assault—at its VA medical centers. The policy gives certain VA medical center staff responsibility for managing…
Internet of Things: OMB Action Needed to Ensure Agencies Secure Their Networked Devices
What GAO Found The nation’s infrastructure relies on information systems to support its varied functions. This includes the networked Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) devices that interact with the physical world, including in building maintenance systems and specialized…
Foreign Assistance: Agencies Made Broad Changes, but State Lacked Guidance for Decisions
What GAO Found In response to multiple executive orders issued beginning in January 2025, selected agencies have made changes, some significant, to their foreign assistance programming and staffing. Eight of the nine agencies included in GAO’s review decreased funding (e.g., obligations) for…
Disaster Assistance: FEMA Actions Needed to Better Support People with Disabilities in Disasters
What GAO Found The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made guidance, grants, and specialized staff available to state and local governments and other organizations that support disaster survivors, including people with disabilities. FEMA has some guidance for state and local partners…
Combatting Illicit Drugs: DOJ and DHS Must Resolve Uncertainties Around Collaboration to Ensure Effective Counternarcotics Investigations
What GAO Found The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have entered into longstanding formal agreements to enhance their collaboration on counternarcotics investigations, including a June 2009 interagency cooperation agreement and a January 2021…
State Taxpayers Need Extra Protection from Their Legislatures
Voters in Iowa have the chance to secure themselves against rogue tax hikes.
What Went Wrong in America’s Addiction Recovery Policy?
Thirty years ago in Seattle, I was sad to see a homeless man sleeping in a park at the top level of a double slide. It was a nice playground—I could imagine little brothers enjoying a race down that slide—but as things were, parents and kids stayed away. What I witnessed then was nothing compared…