Featured Stories
VA IG: Mental Health Inspection of the VA Jackson Healthcare System in Mississippi
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-03937-260) entitled "Mental Health Inspection of the VA Jackson Healthcare System in Mississippi."
Here are excerpts:
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The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection of acute inpatient mental health care at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, part of the VA Jackson Healthcare System. The review focused on five domains: leadership and organizational culture, recovery-oriented principles, clinical care coordination, suicide prevention, and safety. The OIG
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-03937-260) entitled "Mental Health Inspection of the VA Jackson Healthcare System in Mississippi."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection of acute inpatient mental health care at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, part of the VA Jackson Healthcare System. The review focused on five domains: leadership and organizational culture, recovery-oriented principles, clinical care coordination, suicide prevention, and safety. The OIGidentified both strengths and opportunities for improvement, issuing 10 recommendations to facility leaders.
Facility leadership demonstrated commitment to quality care through frequent communication, collaborative meetings, and mechanisms for veteran feedback. However, the Mental Health Executive Council did not have veteran representation at the time of the inspection. Staff recruitment remained a challenge, particularly for inpatient psychiatrists, but leaders leveraged incentives and training programs to maintain access to care.
Recovery-oriented principles were integrated through consistent nurse engagement, individualized treatment planning, and daily interdisciplinary programming. However, the local recovery coordinator's ancillary duties limited dedicated time for recovery-focused activities. The physical environment, while generally in good repair, did not fully reflect recovery-oriented design elements. Leaders planned renovations to enhance therapeutic support.
The facility met most requirements for involuntary hospitalization and discharge planning. Staff used tracking tools and consulted legal experts to align with state laws. Discharge instructions were provided to veterans, though improvements were needed in documenting medication rationale and ensuring appointment information was clear and understandable.
Suicide prevention efforts included timely risk screenings and safety planning. Staff completed mandatory suicide prevention training. Further, facility leaders reported updating discharge documentation to ensure safety plans were provided to veterans or caregivers. Safety inspections identified environmental hazards, prompting corrective actions by facility staff.
Facility leaders concurred with all recommendations and initiated corrective actions, including enhanced training, improved documentation, and continuous compliance monitoring. The OIG will follow up on open recommendations to ensure sustained improvements in veteran-centered, recovery-oriented care.
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The report is posted at: https://www.vaoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-09/vaoig-25-03937-260_final.pdf
VA IG: Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-00255-206) entitled "Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System in Pennsylvania."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Healthcare Facility Inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the care provided at the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System in Pennsylvania.
This evaluation focused on five key domains:
* Culture
* Environment of care
* Patient safety
* Integrated veteran care
* Veteran-centered
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-00255-206) entitled "Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System in Pennsylvania."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Healthcare Facility Inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the care provided at the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System in Pennsylvania.
This evaluation focused on five key domains:
* Culture
* Environment of care
* Patient safety
* Integrated veteran care
* Veteran-centeredsafety net
The OIG made two recommendations for VA to correct identified issues in one domain:
* Environment of care
* Surveillance system
* Secure and store portable liquid nitrogen tanks
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The report is posted at: https://www.vaoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-09/vaoig-25-00255-206-_final.pdf
Treasury IG for Tax Administration: Fiscal Year 2026 Statutory Review of Restrictions on Directly Contacting Represented Taxpayers
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following report (No. 2026-300-048) on August 31, 2026, entitled "Fiscal Year 2026 Statutory Review of Restrictions on Directly Contacting Represented Taxpayers."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Why TIGTA Did This Audit
The IRS Restructuring and Reform
Act of 1998 requires us to annually report on the IRS's compliance with the direct contact provisions of Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) Section (Sec.) 7521 and the Fair Tax Collection Practices of I.R.C. Sec. 6304(a)(2) during interactions with taxpayers
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following report (No. 2026-300-048) on August 31, 2026, entitled "Fiscal Year 2026 Statutory Review of Restrictions on Directly Contacting Represented Taxpayers."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Why TIGTA Did This Audit
The IRS Restructuring and Reform
Act of 1998 requires us to annually report on the IRS's compliance with the direct contact provisions of Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) Section (Sec.) 7521 and the Fair Tax Collection Practices of I.R.C. Sec. 6304(a)(2) during interactions with taxpayersor their representatives.
These provisions of the law restrict the direct contact of taxpayers who are represented.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights also guarantees taxpayers the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS. In most situations, the IRS must suspend an interview if taxpayers request to consult with a representative, such as an attorney, certified public accountant, or enrolled agent. IRS Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, includes a full list of taxpayers' rights.
Impact on Tax Administration
If taxpayers' rights to representation are not adhered to by the IRS, the taxpayer may not receive the guaranteed rights under the law and procedures to which they are entitled, and they may experience adverse outcomes
such as:
* Unauthorized contact with represented taxpayers.
* Inconsistent treatment during collection actions.
* Missed deadlines and/or delays.
* Accelerated enforcement
actions.
What TIGTA Found
Determining whether the IRS is complying with the right to representation and direct contact provisions is difficult. The IRS does not have a system to identify cases in which taxpayers have either requested consultation with a representative or in which an IRS employee bypassed a representative and directly contacted the taxpayer. To perform this review, we queried IRS data systems to identify cases in which taxpayers were represented, and we evaluated those cases.
Based on our review of a sample of cases, we found that Field Collection employees largely complied with taxpayers' rights under I.R.C. Sec. 7521(c). We also interviewed 4 managers and 18 employees from the Small Business/Self-Employed Division's Field Collection function to evaluate their understanding of direct contact provisions.
While most of these employees appeared to be familiar with the direct contact provisions and Fair Tax Collection Practices, interview responses revealed an inconsistent understanding of certain procedural requirements.
Specifically, we identified inconsistent understanding of procedures involving taxpayer-initiated contact, taxpayers' right to audio record in-person interviews related to the determination or collection of tax, and authorization coverage for additional tax periods. For example, 8 employees did not correctly explain procedures for responding to taxpayer voicemails, 10 employees misstated procedures involving taxpayer-initiated follow-ups, and 5 employees did not demonstrate awareness that taxpayers have 10 business days to consult a representative. Lastly, 10 employees incorrectly stated that audio recording of an in-person interview is not permitted.
What TIGTA Recommended
We recommended that the Director, Collection Policy, Small Business/Self-Employed Division should refine the training pertaining to taxpayer representation and clarify how taxpayers' rights to representation must be observed in enforcement procedures.
The IRS agreed to our recommendation and plans to implement corrective actions.
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The report is posted at: https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-08/2026300048fr.pdf
Fed IG: The Board Can Strengthen Its Processes for Selecting Certain Federal Reserve Bank Leaders
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on September 1, 2026, entitled "The Board Can Strengthen Its Processes for Selecting Certain Federal Reserve Bank Leaders."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
We assessed the design and implementation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's processes for appointing, approving, and consulting on the selection of Federal Reserve Bank Class C directors, presidents, first vice presidents, general auditors, senior supervisory officers, and chief financial officers (CFOs) from 2021
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on September 1, 2026, entitled "The Board Can Strengthen Its Processes for Selecting Certain Federal Reserve Bank Leaders."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Objective
We assessed the design and implementation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's processes for appointing, approving, and consulting on the selection of Federal Reserve Bank Class C directors, presidents, first vice presidents, general auditors, senior supervisory officers, and chief financial officers (CFOs) from 2021through 2024. Our evaluation included the Board's processes for identifying and resolving potential conflicts of interest for candidates for these positions.
To accomplish our objective, we reviewed applicable laws, Board policies and procedures, publicly available information, and leading practices for selecting bank governing boards and defining their roles and responsibilities.
1 We interviewed relevant officials from the Board's Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems (RBOPS), Division of Supervision and Regulation (S&R), and Legal Division. We also interviewed seven governors and conducted outreach with officials from each of the 12 Reserve Banks. Details on our scope and methodology are in appendix A.
Background
The Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is the nation's central bank. Pursuant to the Federal Reserve Act, the System consists of the Board; 12 Reserve Banks; and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). Among its purposes and functions, the System promotes the effective operation of the nation's economy and serves the public interest.
The Board has seven governors, who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Board's responsibilities include conducting general oversight of the 12 Reserve Banks, formulating monetary policy, promoting financial stability, ensuring the safety and soundness of certain financial institutions, and overseeing the nation's payment system. Much of the Board of Governors' decisionmaking occurs in regular board meetings; through notation voting; or through delegations of its authority, including to Reserve Banks. The Board has established a committee structure of seven standing committees and one standing subcommittee. Each standing committee consists of up to three governors, one of whom serves as committee chair. The committees are advisory bodies and do not have decisionmaking authority.
The 12 Reserve Banks operate in distinct geographic regions. Those Reserve Banks execute certain core functions for the System, including supervising and examining financial institutions, lending to depository institutions, enforcing consumer protection and fair lending laws within the System's jurisdiction, promoting local community development, and fostering safe and efficient payment systems.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-selecting-reserve-bank-leaders-sep2026.pdf
FDA Recall Notice: FreshPoint Issues Recall Due to an Improperly Declared Allergen (Egg) in Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwiches
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
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FreshPoint Issues Recall Due to an Improperly Declared Allergen (Egg) in Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwiches
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 08, 2026
FDA Publish Date: September 08, 2026
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Allergens
Reason for Announcement: Improperly declared egg allergen
Company Name: FreshPoint Central Florida, Inc.
Brand Name: Created Fresh!
Product Description: Cranberry Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwich
Company Announcement
Orlando,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
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FreshPoint Issues Recall Due to an Improperly Declared Allergen (Egg) in Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwiches
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 08, 2026
FDA Publish Date: September 08, 2026
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Allergens
Reason for Announcement: Improperly declared egg allergen
Company Name: FreshPoint Central Florida, Inc.
Brand Name: Created Fresh!
Product Description: Cranberry Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwich
Company Announcement
Orlando,FL- FreshPoint of Orlando, FL., is issuing a voluntary recall of 1,093 units of specific lots of Cranberry Chicken Salad Wedge sandwiches due to an improperly declared allergen (eggs). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
The recalled sandwiches were distributed from August 19th, 2026, to September 3rd, 2026, to a single convenience store customer in the states of Georgia and Florida.
The recalled sandwiches are packaged in transparent plastic packages and the Use by Date is printed on the clear plastic container.
BRAND ... ITEM DESCRIPTION ... UPC ... PACK/SIZE ... LOT CODE
Created Fresh! ... Cranberry Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwich ... 766375109617 ... 4.5oz ... Use By Dates of 9/3/2026 to 9/17/2026
To date, no illnesses related to this product have been reported.
The issue was identified during an internal label review. While egg is included in the ingredients list on the package label, it is not listed in the allergen "Contains" statement.
Customers should discard the product. Customers with questions about the recall can contact: Hernan Martinez at 689-710-4467 Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM EST.
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Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/freshpoint-issues-recall-due-improperly-declared-allergen-egg-chicken-salad-wedge-sandwiches
FDA Recall Notice: Fi Recalls Supplements for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
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Fi Recalls Supplements for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 03, 2026
FDA Publish Date: September 08, 2026
Product Type: Animal & Veterinary
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Vet Plus, Inc.
Brand Name: FI
Product Description: Supplements
Company Announcement
Fi, of New York, NY, is recalling the supplements for dogs listed below because
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
* * *
Fi Recalls Supplements for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 03, 2026
FDA Publish Date: September 08, 2026
Product Type: Animal & Veterinary
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Vet Plus, Inc.
Brand Name: FI
Product Description: Supplements
Company Announcement
Fi, of New York, NY, is recalling the supplements for dogs listed below becausethey have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella due to an ingredient supplied to Fi's manufacturer. The manufacturer has suspended production while it investigates. Fi is promptly notifying all affected customers out of an abundance of caution.
Salmonella can affect the animals eating the product, and there is a potential risk to humans from handling contaminated products or from animal waste after the animals have ingested the product. This risk is greater if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having had contact with the products, surfaces exposed to these products, or animal waste.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in additional ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your animal has consumed any of the recalled products and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled products were distributed directly to consumers and through online retailers Amazon and Chewy.com.
Recalled products can be identified as follows:
Product Name ... Lot Number ... UPC
Fi Calming supplement for Dogs 180 g ... 26118 ... 8 50064 80011 1
Fi 8-in-1 Formula supplement for Dogs 180 g ... 26159 ... 8 50055 11168 4
Consumers who have purchased any of the above product lots should discontinue use of the product, make sure the container is tightly sealed, and dispose of it in the trash. Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling 1-888-434-3647 7 days a week, 10am-8pm ET or by emailing the Fi support team at support@tryfi.com.
Adverse events or quality problems may be reported to FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine Adverse Event Reporting program by completing an online Form FDA 1932a available at www.fda.gov/reportanimalae.
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Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fi-recalls-supplements-dogs-because-possible-salmonella-contamination
DOT IG: Quality Control Review of the Independent Service Auditors' Report on DOT's Enterprise Services Center's System Organization and Controls
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report on August 26, 2026, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Independent Service Auditors' Report on DOT's Enterprise Services Center's System Organization and Controls."
Here are excerpts:
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Our Objective(s)
To perform a quality control review (QCR) of KPMG LLP's examination of the Enterprise Services Center's (ESC) description of its system and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of controls for the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. We reviewed KPMG's report,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSLrpt) -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report on August 26, 2026, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Independent Service Auditors' Report on DOT's Enterprise Services Center's System Organization and Controls."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Our Objective(s)
To perform a quality control review (QCR) of KPMG LLP's examination of the Enterprise Services Center's (ESC) description of its system and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of controls for the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. We reviewed KPMG's report,dated July 31, 2026, and related documentation.
Why This Audit
ESC provides financial management services to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other Federal agencies and operates under the direction of DOT's Chief Financial Officer. The Office of Management and Budget requires ESC, as a financial management service provider, to either provide its user organizations with an independent auditors' report on the design and effectiveness of its internal controls or allow user auditors to perform tests of its controls. We contracted with KPMG LLP to conduct this examination subject to our oversight.
What We Found
The independent auditor, KPMG, found that in all material respects:
* the description fairly presents ESC's system that was designed and implemented throughout the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026
* the controls related to the control objectives stated in the description were suitably designed to provide reasonable assurance that the control objectives would be achieved if the controls operated effectively throughout the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026; and user entities applied the complementary controls assumed in the design of ESC's controls throughout the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026; and
* the controls operated effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the control objectives stated in the description were achieved throughout the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, if complementary user entity controls assumed in the design of ESC's controls operated effectively throughout the period October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Our QCR disclosed no instances in which KPMG did not comply, in all material respects, with generally accepted Government auditing standards.
Recommendations
OST concurs with KPMG's two recommendations.
The underlying report has been marked and/or withheld as Controlled Unclassified Information to protect sensitive information that may be exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S. Code Sec. 552.
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The report is posted at: https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/library-items/Highlights%20-%20QCR%20on%20DOT%20ESC%20Organization%20and%20Controls.pdf
