Featured Stories
Social Security IG: Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 032406) on August 5, 2026, entitled "Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether Social Security Administration (SSA) employees followed policy for recovering overpayments made to Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who subsequently died with outstanding overpayment balances.
Background
When a beneficiary dies with an outstanding overpayment, SSA policy requires that employees
... Show Full Article
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 032406) on August 5, 2026, entitled "Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Objective
To determine whether Social Security Administration (SSA) employees followed policy for recovering overpayments made to Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who subsequently died with outstanding overpayment balances.
Background
When a beneficiary dies with an outstanding overpayment, SSA policy requires that employeespursue recovery using a specific priority adjustment, including the following.
* Withholding any underpayments due the deceased beneficiary.
* Withholding any lump-sum death payment payable on the same earnings record.
* Proposing benefit adjustments against contingently liable beneficiaries.
* Recovering from the deceased beneficiary's estate.
We identified 17,979 adult beneficiaries who died between December 2022 and December 2024 with approximately $240 million in outstanding overpayments. We reviewed a random sample of 125 deceased beneficiaries.
Results
Of the 125 beneficiaries we reviewed, SSA employees followed policy for recovering overpayments for 66 (53 percent). However, employees did not follow SSA's policies for recovering overpayments made to 59 (47 percent) beneficiaries who subsequently died. Specifically, SSA did not
* attempt recovery from 40 deceased beneficiaries' estates;
* process pending actions to attempt recovery from contingently liable individuals for 15 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments; or
* withhold lump-sum death payments from eligible survivors to offset 4 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments.
Based on our sample results, we estimate SSA could attempt recovery of outstanding overpayments totaling approximately $106 million that 8,486 deceased beneficiaries owed by applying its priority of overpayment adjustments.
Recommendations
We recommend SSA
Pursue recovery of the 10 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments from the contingently liable individuals identified in our review, as required by SSA policy and Implement controls to ensure employees follow policy to attempt recovery of deceased beneficiaries' overpayments from estates, contingently liable beneficiaries, and lump-sum death payments.
SSA agreed to implement our recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/032406.pdf
Postal Service IG: Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
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During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three delivery
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three deliveryunits and one report for the P&DC. We will also issue another report summarizing the results of our audits at all three delivery units with specific recommendations for management to address.
The audit team identified deficiencies in six areas we reviewed affecting mail delivery and property conditions at the three delivery units.
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View the original text at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-08/26-066-r26.pdf
NSF IG: Evaluation of NSF's End-of-Employment Processes and Procedures
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSrep) -- The National Science Foundation Inspector General issued the following audit report on August 3, 2026, entitled "Evaluation of NSF's End-of-Employment Processes and Procedures."
Here are excerpts:
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WHY WE DID THIS EVALUATION
NSF has end-of-employment processes intended to ensure the safety and security of NSF staff; manage the distribution, tracking, and return of federal assets; ensure compliance with postemployment restrictions; and comply with federal guidance and regulations. At the time we began this evaluation, NSF was undergoing a series of workforce
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSrep) -- The National Science Foundation Inspector General issued the following audit report on August 3, 2026, entitled "Evaluation of NSF's End-of-Employment Processes and Procedures."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
WHY WE DID THIS EVALUATION
NSF has end-of-employment processes intended to ensure the safety and security of NSF staff; manage the distribution, tracking, and return of federal assets; ensure compliance with postemployment restrictions; and comply with federal guidance and regulations. At the time we began this evaluation, NSF was undergoing a series of workforcereductions, including a Deferred Resignation Program, which made NSF's management of the separation process particularly timely and important. Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of NSF's end-of-employment processes and procedures.
WHAT WE FOUND
Although NSF effectively implemented many end-of-employment processes and procedures, it did not ensure they were consistently followed or effective in all cases. For example, NSF canceled government charge cards and collected nearly all accountable property in a timely manner, but it did not consistently meet requirements for disabling access to NSF's network, information technology systems, or facilities. Additionally, NSF did not properly track official passports or provide post-employment exit briefings to certain staff as required. This occurred, in part, because of incomplete documentation, the late initiation of the separations clearance process, and a lack of agency-wide guidance for abrupt separations. As a result, some individuals who departed NSF temporarily retained access to information, facilities, federal identification, and resources, creating security vulnerabilities and putting NSF staff and data at risk.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND
We made five recommendations to improve the effectiveness of NSF's end-of-employment processes and procedures.
AGENCY RESPONSE
NSF agreed with our recommendations to improve the effectiveness of NSF's end-ofemployment processes and procedures. We included NSF's response to this report, in its entirety, in Appendix C.
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The report is posted at: file:///Users/moirasirois/Downloads/26-03-002%20Evaluation%20of%20NSF%20End-of-Employment%20Processes%20and%20Procedures.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
PASADENA, California, Aug. 7 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission's trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.
When the trio of NASA's SkyFall helicopters takes to the Martian skies, one of their tasks will be to hunt for frozen water -- a critical resource for future astronauts -- using ground-penetrating radar. For that radar to work, each rotorcraft will carry a flexible, fabric-based antenna
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Aug. 7 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters
The hardware will enable the SkyFall mission's trio of planetary rotorcraft to use ground-penetrating radar to study the Martian subsurface.
When the trio of NASA's SkyFall helicopters takes to the Martian skies, one of their tasks will be to hunt for frozen water -- a critical resource for future astronauts -- using ground-penetrating radar. For that radar to work, each rotorcraft will carry a flexible, fabric-based antennathat will need to extend below the aircraft without interfering with landings or breaking upon impact. It is a specialized design for the mission, and it recently cleared a round of testing at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Although orbiting spacecraft can map the thick Martian ice deposits tens of yards below the surface, they're effectively blind to the top several yards of regolith, or broken rock and dust. This shallow zone is what will matter most for future astronauts, who will need to easily reach and process ice for water, oxygen, and fuel.
"The only way to detect shallow subsurface ice remotely is to fly close to the ground," said Adrian Tang, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar lead instrument scientist at JPL. "By flying low and slow, a SkyFall helicopter could capture radar images that resolve the fine layering where dry soil gives way to ice, detecting its presence and mapping its extent."
Composed for Mars
To peer beneath the Martian surface, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar will use an ultra-wide frequency range -- from 500 to 2,500 megahertz -- corresponding to wavelengths of about 24 to 5 inches (60 to 12 centimeters). The longest wavelengths can penetrate several yards below the surface. The shorter wavelengths provide finer detail about the uppermost layers and surface texture.
This is where the unique antenna design comes in. A traditional antenna operating in that part of the electromagnetic spectrum would need to be 19 inches (48.3 centimeters) long and have a clear view of the ground, but the minimum clearance between Mars' surface and the base of the helicopter's fuselage is only about 6 inches (15.2 centimeters). The team needed an antenna that wouldn't interfere with or be damaged by landing.
After an extensive search for the right antenna, the SkyFall team zeroed in on the Vivaldi because it can transmit and receive signals across a large, continuous range of radio frequencies, and because its flat, lightweight profile can be easily cut into flexible, metalized fabrics. The curvilinear antenna was named by its inventor, Peter Gibson, who felt its sweeping lines resembled a violin, an instrument associated with composer Antonio Vivaldi.
While the standard Vivaldi footprint was efficient and robust, it was still too large to work with SkyFall's ground clearance. Fortunately, SkyFall's ground-penetrating radar can be further miniaturized because it is designed specifically for shallow surveying (under 16 feet, or 5 meters) in the dry Martian regolith, which blocks radio waves far less than Earth's soil. The team developed techniques to reduce the antenna's size even more without sacrificing sensitivity.
"Although we managed to shrink the antenna quite a bit, it is about 11/2 times longer than the helicopter's legs," said Christine Gebara, SkyFall ground-penetrating radar mechanical lead at JPL. "That means during landing, the Vivaldi has to bend out of the way -- and if it lands on a rock, it bends even further. But when the helicopter takes off again, the antenna must spring back into place for data collection. Because SkyFall is expected to make dozens of flights exploring Mars, we needed an antenna that could repeatedly handle those pressures without losing its shape in flight."
To ensure their downsized Vivaldi could withstand flight operations, the team sheathed it in a polyester and then layers of Vectran -- the same flexible, superstrong material used for the landing airbags containing NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. To help the antenna maintain shape while airborne, engineers added flexible fiberglass tape springs and a lightweight magnesium mounting structure. The entire setup weighs about 5 ounces (150 grams), slightly more than two violin bows.
Testing Vivaldi
Testing space hardware concepts with paper designs and mathematical models can get a mission only so far. The team needed to prove their antenna prototype could survive a full mission's worth of intense temperature swings and space radiation.
Working in JPL's Environmental Test Laboratory, engineers bent the antenna to simulate one possible orientation after a SkyFall flight at Mars. Then they ran it through dramatic thermal shifts to simulate the Martian day-night cycle, during which temperatures can swing by as much as 170 degrees Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius). Next, they repeatedly flexed the antenna as if it had gone through dozens of landings. Along the way, they paused six times to carry the hardware to an electromagnetic test chamber to verify that its ability to beam and receive radar signals hadn't diminished.
During radiofrequency testing, the team inverted the antenna so that the bottom pointed up -- a setup that stresses the structure more than Mars' one-third gravity ever would -- and tested signal performance. By the end of the test campaign, the antenna had withstood 200 Mars landings, more than double what would be required for a successful prime mission, with no loss of performance.
"This test checked every box it was supposed to and answered our biggest technical questions," said Tang. "While we still have work ahead of us before the antenna is fully flight-qualified, this was a major milestone, and the hardware performed exactly as expected."
With the antenna's first big test campaign behind it, the ground-penetrating radar team is building an engineering model that will endure vibration testing, deployment in a simulated Martian environment, signal testing, and outdoor trials at JPL's Mars Yard.
Equipped with four instruments each, the three SkyFall aircraft follow in the footsteps of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which flew 72 times over nearly three years, proving that powered, controlled flight is possible in the rarefied Martian atmosphere. It also demonstrated how an aerial perspective can generate valuable data by helping NASA's Perseverance Mars rover team plan time-saving routes and choose locations for science-gathering.
SkyFall is expected to launch aboard NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom in late 2028.
For more information on SkyFall:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/skyfall/
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-tests-featherweight-radar-antenna-for-skyfall-mars-helicopters/
IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition toward
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition towarda more targeted, efficient, and fiscally sustainable subsidy system. To this end, it will finance subsidies for natural gas consumption through the gas distribution network and bottled gas (LPG) for eligible households, while also strengthening the institutional capacities required to implement, manage, and monitor the new scheme.
The IDB-supported program will directly benefit approximately 1.2 million households receiving support for natural gas network consumption and 3.5 million bottled gas users.
In addition, the operation will strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of the Secretariat of Energy and the National Gas and Electricity Regulatory Authority through the development of information systems, analytical tools, and improvements to targeting and monitoring mechanisms, contributing to more efficient and transparent program management.
The IDB loan has a repayment term of 25 years, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-supports-modernization-energy-subsidy-system-protect-vulnerable-households-argentina
Here Come Bold Stripes and Bright Stars
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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Here Come Bold Stripes and Bright Stars
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LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD -The U.S. Postal Service released its new Diagonal U.S. Flag Forever stamped envelope at the BALPEX stamp show today.
The envelope features a red-white-and-blue digital image of a detail of the U.S. flag shown at an angle. The stamped envelope has five alternating red stripes and four white stripes that run diagonally across the right side of the stamp image. At the top left, a portion of the blue field is shown with 23 white stars. The words
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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Here Come Bold Stripes and Bright Stars
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LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD -The U.S. Postal Service released its new Diagonal U.S. Flag Forever stamped envelope at the BALPEX stamp show today.
The envelope features a red-white-and-blue digital image of a detail of the U.S. flag shown at an angle. The stamped envelope has five alternating red stripes and four white stripes that run diagonally across the right side of the stamp image. At the top left, a portion of the blue field is shown with 23 white stars. The words"USA" and "FOREVER" appear at the bottom in black lettering.
The American flag has long been a popular subject on U.S. postage. The flag's design dates to 1777, when the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Act, which specified 13 stripes and 13 white stars in a blue field to honor the 13 original Colonies. The second Flag Act, enacted in 1794, mandated that the flag be made up of 15 stars and 15 stripes following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky into the union.
Then in 1818, with 20 states now in the union, the U.S. Congress passed the third and final Flag Act, which mandated a star for every state and a return to 13 stripes. It also set the date for each new star's official addition to the flag for the July 4th following the state's admission to the union. The last time the flag was changed was in 1960, after Hawaii achieved statehood the previous August.
In recent years, stamped envelopes have been issued with or without patriotic designs. Past patriotic issuances include a 2020 graphic treatment of Old Glory surrounded by a border of gold stars, and a 2013 version showing an image of an eagle carrying two American flags and a shield.
Bryan Duefrene designed the stamp image. "I was looking for a bolder, eye-catching way of portraying the flag, and decided to focus on the elements of the Stars and Stripes rather than the flag as a whole. I experimented with different crops of the flag before finally landing on the tilted crop you see on the envelope. I think it turned out really well."
The Diagonal U.S. Flag stamped envelope is a Forever product. Its postage will always be equal to the value of the stamped envelope rate in effect at the time of use, even if the rate changes after purchase.
News of the stamped envelope is being shared with the hashtag #DiagonalFlagStampedEnvelope.
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is currently pursuing a transformation plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0807-here-come-bold-stripes-and-bright-stars.htm
Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
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Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors approved an $80 million operation to boost agricultural productivity in the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina, through investments in irrigation, rural electrification, and productive infrastructure.
The operation will finance the Rural Productive Development Program for the Province of Rio Negro, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
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Argentina Boosts Agricultural Productivity in Rio Negro with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors approved an $80 million operation to boost agricultural productivity in the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina, through investments in irrigation, rural electrification, and productive infrastructure.
The operation will finance the Rural Productive Development Program for the Province of Rio Negro, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity,improve the efficiency of rural infrastructure, and strengthen production resilience. The initiative will help advance water-use efficiency, expand access to electricity, and strengthen the capacity of producers and institutions to prevent and respond to extreme events such as wildfires, droughts, and hailstorms.
"Rio Negro has enormous potential to further strengthen its agricultural production. Through this operation, the IDB is supporting strategic investments that will improve access to water and energy, strengthen risk management, and create better conditions for producers. This initiative reflects our commitment to more productive and resilient growth for Argentina's regional economies," said Viviana Alva Hart, IDB Group Representative in Argentina.
"The approval of this loan reflects the confidence that international organizations place in the way we manage the province. That confidence is built through responsibility, predictability, and keeping our commitments. This is the path we have chosen and will continue to strengthen," said Alberto Weretilneck, Governor of Rio Negro Province.
This operation is the first under the Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) titled "Strategic Provincial Investments Program for Rural Productive Development," which provides for up to $600 million to finance future investments in Argentina's provinces. Through this credit line, the IDB will support projects aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure, promoting innovation and the adoption of new technologies, increasing agricultural productivity and developing more resilient and competitive production systems.
The program is expected to directly benefit nearly 7,000 agricultural producers in Rio Negro Province. In addition, 566 households in Guardia Mitre will gain access to higher-quality electricity service. Indirectly, more than 275,000 people in the areas of intervention will benefit from improvements in the province's water, energy, and productive infrastructure.
The loan has a 25-year repayment period, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR. The financing will be complemented by $5 million in local counterpart funding, bringing the total program cost to $85 million.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/argentina-boosts-agricultural-productivity-rio-negro-idb-support
