Fish and Wildlife Service:

Investigation of Alleged Accounting Violations

AFMD-86-61, Jul 2, 1986

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John F. Simonette
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In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) fiscal year (FY) 1983 financial reports to determine their accuracy and whether any inaccuracies that may have occurred were due to official misconduct.

GAO found that FWS: (1) submitted inaccurate reports for its FY 1983 Resource Management Program; (2) did not promptly record $420,000 of known obligations; (3) improperly charged $900,000 to its FY 1984 appropriation; (4) did not determine whether a violation occurred until more than 2 years after the appropriation expired; and (5) spent an unreasonable amount of time determining whether a violation had occurred.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Recommendations for Executive Action

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Interior should require FWS to adjust its accounting records to charge the contract modifications to the FY 1983 account.

    Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: Action has been directed by the Secretary.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Interior should require FWS to report a violation of the Antideficiency Act unless FWS can identify and justify further adjustments that show an overobligation does not exist. Any such adjustments should be verified by the Office of Inspector General or another party deemed by the Secretary to be sufficiently independent.

    Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Secretary directed that Antideficiency Act violation reports be filed with the President and Congress. The Secretary signed the anti-deficiency report on July 7, 1987.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Interior should require FWS to incorporate into its standard operating procedures the requirement that all regional offices are to perform monthly reconciliations of their financial reports.

    Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Secretary directed all regional offices to perform monthly reconciliations of financial reports, but has not specified that the requirement be incorporated into FWS standard operating procedures.