Senate poised to confirm first DoD IG in nearly two years

The Senate Armed Services Committee took the next step to fill four vacancies in the Defense Department, including one that has been vacant for almost two years.

The department has been without a Senate-confirmed inspector general since December 2011.

President Barack Obama nominated current Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation IG Jon Rymer for the job. Rymer made his case Thursday during his confirmation hearing before the committee. Rymer has been the FDIC IG since 2006. He recently retired from the Army Reserve with more than 30 years of service between his active and reserve duty. He is a graduate of the Army's Inspector General School. His experience in the private sector includes seven years in consulting and interval auditing at a major accounting firm and 15 years as a senior manager in the banking industry.

While very familiar with the Army's prevention programs, Rymer said he believed the role of the IG is to provide oversight for the effectiveness of the programs in place and an analysis of the money spent by each of the services.

-Lauren Larson, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE...

Recent GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office recently released the following publications:

Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issues, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
GAO-09-1048T, September 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-1048T

Results-Oriented Management: Strengthening Key Practices at FEMA and Interior Could Promote Greater Use of Performance Information.
GAO-09-676, August 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-676
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09676high.pdf

Government Performance: Strategies for Building a Results-Oriented and Collaborative Culture in the Federal Government, by Bernice Steinhardt, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
GAO-09-1011T, September 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-1011T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d091011thigh.pdf

DCAA Audits: Widespread Problems with Audit Quality Require Significant Reform.
GAO-09-468, September 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-468
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09468high.pdf

DCAA Audits: Widespread Problems with Audit Quality Require Significant Reform, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, and Gayle L. Fischer, assistant director, financial management and assurance, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
GAO-09-1009T, September 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-1009T

Recovery Act: Funds Continue to Provide Fiscal Relief to States and Localities, While Accountability and Reporting Challenges Need to Be Fully Addressed.
GAO-09-1016, September 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-1016
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d091016high.pdf

Recovery Act: Funds Continue to Provide Fiscal Relief to States and Localities, While Accountability and Reporting Challenges Need to Be Fully Addressed (State Appendixes).
GAO-09-1017SP, September 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-1017SP

Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Government Assistance Provided to AIG.
GAO-09-975, September 21.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-975
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09975high.pdf

Low-Income and Minority Serving Institutions: Management Attention to Long-standing Concerns Needed to Improve Education's Oversight of Grant Programs.
GAO-09-309, August 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-309
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09309high.pdf

Ryan White CARE Act: Effects of Certain Funding Provisions on Grant Awards.
GAO-09-894, September 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-894
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09894high.pdf

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: More Strategic Approach Needed for Processing Complex Plans Prone to Delays and Overpayments.
GAO-09-716, August 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-716
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09716high.pdf

Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FDIC's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures.
GAO-09-943R, September 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-943R

DOD Business Systems Modernization: Navy Implementing a Number of Key Management Controls on Enterprise Resource Planning System, but Improvements Still Needed.
GAO-09-841, September 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-841
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09841high.pdf

Mineral Revenues: MMS Could Do More to Improve the Accuracy of Key Data Used to Collect and Verify Oil and Gas Royalties.
GAO-09-549, July 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-549
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09549high.pdf

Royalty-in-Kind Program: MMS Does Not Provide Reasonable Assurance It Receives Its Share of Gas, Resulting in Millions in Forgone Revenue.
GAO-09-744, August 14.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-744
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09744high.pdf

Recent GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released the following publications:

Internal Revenue Service: Review of the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request.
GAO-09-754, June 3
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-754
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09754high.pdf

Indian Health Service: Millions of Dollars in Property and Equipment Continue to Be Lost or Stolen.
GAO-09-450, June 2.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-450
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09450high.pdf

Information Technology: FDA Needs to Establish Key Plans and Processes for Guiding Systems Modernization Efforts.
GAO-09-523, June 2.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-523
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09523high.pdf

Financial Audit: Senate Restaurants Revolving Fund for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2007.
GAO-09-409, May 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-409

Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2008 and 2007 Financial Statements.
GAO-09-535, May 28
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-535
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09535high.pdf

Financial Management: DOD Needs to Clarify Its General Gift Fund Policies to Provide for Effective Oversight.
GAO-09-486R, May 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-486R

Appropriations Decisions:

B-317891, Natural Resources Conservation Service--Use of
Appropriated Funds for Contest Entry Fees, May 26, 2009
http://www.gao.gov/decisions/appro/317891.htm

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) may use
appropriated funds to reimburse an employee for fees paid by the
employee to enter agency-produced public outreach products in a
marketing and communications awards contest if NRCS makes an
administrative determination that participation in the contest
benefits its mission and any award would be to NRCS.

Today's GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following testimonies:

Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issues, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
GAO-09-359T, February 5.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-359T

Financial Regulation: A Framework for Crafting and Assessing Proposals to Modernize the Outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory System, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
GAO-09-349T, February 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-349T

Today's GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following report and testimony:

High-Risk Series: An Update.
GAO-09-271, January 22
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-271
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09271high.pdf

Real Property: Infrastructure Investment Presents Opportunities to Address Long-standing Real Property Backlogs and Reduce Energy Consumption.
GAO-09-324T, January 22 http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-324T

Today's GAO Publication

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following testimony:

Financial Regulation: A Framework for Crafting and Assessing Proposals to Modernize the Outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory System.
GAO-09-314T, January 21
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-314T

Today's GAO Publication

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following testimony:

Financial Regulation: A Framework for Crafting and Assessing Proposals to Modernize the Outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory System, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Congressional Oversight Panel.
GAO-09-310T, January 14.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-310T

Today's GAO Publication

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following report:

Financial Regulation: A Framework for Crafting and Assessing Proposals to Modernize the Outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory System.
GAO-09-216, January 8.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-216
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09216high.pdf

Today's GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following reports and correspondence:

Telecommunications: FCC Needs to Improve Performance Management and Strengthen Oversight of the High-Cost Program.
GAO-08-633, June 13.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-633
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08633high.pdf

Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FDIC's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures.
GAO-08-863R, July 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-863R

Today's GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following reports:

Information Security: FDIC Sustains Progress but Needs to Improve Configuration Management of Key Financial Systems.
GAO-08-564, May 30.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-564
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08564high.pdf

Federal User Fees: A Design Guide.
GAO-08-386SP, May 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-386SP
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08386sphigh.pdf

Today's GAO Publication

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following report:

Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2007 and 2006 Financial Statements.
GAO-08-416, February 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-416
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08416high.pdf

Today's GAO Publication

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following correspondence:

Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FDIC's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures.
GAO-07-942R, June 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-942R