Federal Independent Agencies
Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Can a Bat Catch Prey on a Mirror? A Bat's Expert Foraging Skills Revealed Using a Robot
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Jan. 17 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:* * *
Acoustic Mirroring
Can a bat catch prey on a mirror? A bat's expert foraging skills revealed using a robot
Researchers demonstrate the first plausible mechanism for the acoustic mirroring effect in tropical bats
By Benjamin Marcus
Scientists built a robot to help explain how a tropical bat spots insects perched on leaves using echolocation, a highly sophisticated behavior that requires precise, split-second decision making on the part of the hunting bat. In a study published in the ... Show Full Article PANAMA CITY, Panama, Jan. 17 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news: * * * Acoustic Mirroring Can a bat catch prey on a mirror? A bat's expert foraging skills revealed using a robot Researchers demonstrate the first plausible mechanism for the acoustic mirroring effect in tropical bats By Benjamin Marcus Scientists built a robot to help explain how a tropical bat spots insects perched on leaves using echolocation, a highly sophisticated behavior that requires precise, split-second decision making on the part of the hunting bat. In a study published in theJournal of Experimental Biology, a bat researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) teamed up with two robotics engineers from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Antwerp, respectively, to provide the first plausible explanation for how the common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) can efficiently determine whether a leaf is occupied by a silent insect amidst the dense, cluttered understory of the tropical rainforest using only sound.
Co-author Inga Geipel, a research associate at STRI, previously suggested that M. microtis detects silent prey by scanning leaves with sound from an angle, akin to a human viewing a mirror from the side, and listening for an echo that indicates prey is there. If the leaf is unoccupied, then the bat's sounds will bounce off the leaf and away from the bat, and the bat will not hear an echo. If the leaf is occupied by prey, then most of the echo will reflect away from the bat, but some will bounce off the prey and back to the bat, signaling it has found a meal.
But Geipel's theory suggests that for the bat to know the angle at which it should approach a leaf to be able to detect prey, it first needs to know the orientation and position of each leaf. Taking those measurements, however, would cost the bat significant time and energy, so the researchers proposed that the bats can zoom in on the interesting leaves merely by taking advantage of the steadiness of the echoes originating from their prey perched upon them.
"I always have been amazed how these small animals can not only navigate the complex entanglement of a forest understory in complete darkness, but also how they find and catch tiny insects with an incredible accuracy, using their own sounds," Geipel said. "Still, we only have a limited understanding of how bats hunt in this crowded environment, and our study helps explain how they are able to accomplish this challenging task."
Using a Robot To Model Foraging Behavior
To model the bats' hypothesized foraging technique, the research team built a robot and programmed it to emit ultrasonic signals and follow the echoes from carboard leaves--without measuring the size or orientation of the leaves themselves. The robot randomly explored a set of these model leaves, one of which featured a fake dragonfly, until it detected an echo, and it moved in the direction of the echo. If the echo got too weak--which in nature, would indicate the leaf is unoccupied--the robot would move on.
"Behavioral experiments had already suggested how these bats might solve the problem of finding prey-occupied leaves, but we wanted to know whether that explanation was actually sufficient to make the behavior work," said Dieter Vanderelst, the paper's lead author and an associate professor of biology, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. "By building the bat's hypothesized foraging strategy into a robot and testing it in the physical world, we could ask whether a simple, elegant solution can succeed under complex acoustic conditions."
Using the described algorithm, the robot was able to distinguish between leaves occupied by the dragonfly model and vacant leaves. It successfully detected the dragonfly 98% of the time and wrongly signaled the presence of prey on unoccupied leaves only 18% of the time. As it swept across the leaves, the robot collected data that demonstrated how it made the distinction: If a leaf was unoccupied, the echo volume peaked and dropped quickly as the robot approached the smooth leaf from different angles, while an occupied leaf produced stable echoes regardless of the angle, since the three-dimensional insect reflected the echo in many different directions. The robot was most accurate when approaching the leaf from the angles at which these bats typically approach leaves in nature. This model demonstrates that bats could detect prey using a leaf as a mirror without having to determine the leaf's position and orientation first.
"What fascinates me most is that by flying at a well-chosen height, the bats can use leaves as mirrors to automatically restrict their attention to particular leaves of interest," said Herbert Peremans, the study's senior author and a professor of robotics at the University of Antwerp. "This example nicely shows that nature doesn't evolve components; it evolves systems. It is the dynamic interaction between the bat and the environment--through SONAR--that makes this hunting behavior work."
These data expand the understanding of how M. microtis and other bats that catch prey from surfaces, can forage so efficiently. The method by which they scan leaves for prey could potentially help inform the design of new SONAR systems for use in agriculture, such as for the detection of fruit in trees or pests on crops--designs that translate foraging efficiency in bats into efficiency in food production for humans and other animals.
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Original text here: https://stri.si.edu/story/acoustic-mirroring
EPA IG: U.S. Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board FY 2025 Financial Statement Audit
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-F-0009) on Jan. 8, 2026, entitled "U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Fiscal 2025 Financial Statement Audit."Here are excerpts:
* * *
At a Glance
Why This Audit Was Done
To accomplish this objective:
The audit was performed in accordance with the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, as amended by the Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002, which requires the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to prepare, and the Office of Inspector ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-F-0009) on Jan. 8, 2026, entitled "U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Fiscal 2025 Financial Statement Audit." Here are excerpts: * * * At a Glance Why This Audit Was Done To accomplish this objective: The audit was performed in accordance with the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, as amended by the Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002, which requires the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to prepare, and the Office of InspectorGeneral to audit, the agency's financial statements each year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency OIG, which also serves as the OIG for the CSB, contracted with Allmond & Company LLC to perform the audit of the CSB's fiscal year 2025 financial statements.
Allmond & Company is responsible for the enclosed auditor's report and the conclusions expressed in that report. We do not express any opinion or conclusions on the CSB's financial statements; internal control; or compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements.
To support this CSB mission-related effort:
* Create and maintain an engaged, high-performing workforce.
What Allmond & Company Found
Allmond & Company rendered an unmodified opinion on the CSB's fiscal year 2025 financial statements, meaning that the statements were fairly presented and free of material misstatements.
In planning and performing the audit, Allmond & Company considered the CSB's internal controls over financial reporting. Allmond & Company did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting for fiscal year 2025 that would be considered material weaknesses or significant deficiencies.
Allmond & Company did identify a deficiency in the CSB's internal control over financial reporting. Although this deficiency was not considered to be a material weakness or significant deficiency, it nonetheless warranted management's attention. Allmond & Company communicated this matter to CSB management and, where appropriate, will report on the matter separately.
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the CSB's financial statements are free of material misstatement, Allmond & Company performed tests of the CSB's compliance with certain provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. Noncompliance with these provisions could have a direct and material effect on the financial statements. Allmond & Company did not identify any instances of noncompliance for fiscal year 2025 that would be reportable under U.S. generally accepted government auditing standards.
Allmond & Company made no recommendations as a result of this audit.
* * *
Mr. Steve Owens
Chairperson
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board
470 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Suite 604 #23278 Washington, D.C. 20026
Dear Mr. Owens:
This letter transmits the enclosed audit report on the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's fiscal year 2025 financial statements. The project number for this audit was OA-FY25-0065. This audit is required by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, as amended by the Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002. The independent public accounting firm of Allmond & Company LLC performed this audit in accordance with the comptroller general of the United States' Government Auditing Standards and Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 24-02, Audit Requirements for Federal Financial Statements.
Allmond & Company is responsible for the enclosed auditor's report and the opinions and conclusions expressed in that report. We do not express any opinion or conclusions on the CSB's financial statements; internal control; or compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements.
A response to this report is not required because the report contains no recommendations. If your office submits a response, however, it will be posted on the OIG's website, along with our memorandum commenting on the response. The response should be provided as an Adobe PDF file that complies with the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The final response should not contain data that your office does not want released to the public; if the response contains such data, your office should identify the data for redaction or removal along with corresponding justification.
We will post this report to our website at www.epa.gov/oig.
Sincerely,
Nicole N. Murley
Deputy Inspector General performing the duties of the Inspector General
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-01/_epaoig_01092026-26-f-0009_cert.pdf
EPA IG: Audit of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All Program
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0008) on Jan. 7, 2026, entitled "Audit of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All Program:"* * *
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Audit of the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All Program
Report No. 26-P-0008
FROM: Nicole N. Murley, Deputy Inspector General performing the duties of Inspector General
TO: Melissa Wise, Director
Office of the Chief Grants Officer
Office of Finance and Administration
* * *
This is our report on the subject audit conducted by ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0008) on Jan. 7, 2026, entitled "Audit of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All Program:" * * * MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Audit of the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All Program Report No. 26-P-0008 FROM: Nicole N. Murley, Deputy Inspector General performing the duties of Inspector General TO: Melissa Wise, Director Office of the Chief Grants Officer Office of Finance and Administration * * * This is our report on the subject audit conducted bythe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General. The project number for this audit was OA-FY25-0043. This report discusses the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All program, including a description of the status of funds, top recipients, risks, and impacts. The former Office of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provided technical comments to an earlier version of this report, and we incorporated changes as appropriate. Final determinations on matters in this report will be made by EPA managers in accordance with established audit resolution procedures.
A response to this report is not required because the report contains no recommendations. If your office submits a response, however, it will be posted on the OIG's website, along with our memorandum commenting on the response. The response should be provided as an Adobe PDF file that complies with the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The final response should not contain data that your office does not want released to the public; if the response contains such data, your office should identify the data for redaction or removal along with corresponding justification.
We will post this report to our website at www.epa.gov/oig.
Background
This report provides information about the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All program and its activities. Our objective for this audit was to describe the status of funds, top recipients, and potential risks and impacts of the Solar for All program. However, the EPA terminated the program in August 2025.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-169, signed on August 16, 2022, provided the EPA with $27 billion to establish the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Of that funding, approximately $20 billion was for the National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator programs and $7 billion was for zero-emissions technologies, also known as Solar for All. This program was meant to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from zero-emissions technologies, including to carry out other greenhouse gas reduction activities. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included a statutory deadline of September 30, 2024, for the EPA to obligate the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations for eligible recipients.
Also, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided the EPA $30 million to cover administrative costs necessary to carry out activities for the entire Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The EPA stated that it allocated the administrative funding across budget categories including compensation and benefits, travel, expenses, and contracts. According to the EPA's Office of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, or OGGRF, it used most of the administrative funds to implement and oversee the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, but some funding was utilized for contracts to work on quality assurance and transaction testing and to assist with the data intake system for performance reporting. Additionally, the EPA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of General Counsel, and Office of Mission Support utilized some of the administrative funding to provide support services to the OGGRF.
The OGGRF issued a notice of funding opportunity from June to October 2023, which informed the public of the Agency's intention to award Solar for All grants. Also, the OGGRF designed the Solar for All competition and implementation framework, evaluated the proposals, and, in April 2024, announced the recipient awards.
In July 2024, two months before the September statutory deadline, the EPA obligated approximately $6.98 billion, or 99.7 percent, of Solar for All funding to grant recipients spanning 36 states, 19 nonprofit organizations, four tribal communities, and one municipality across the United States and its territories. For the remaining approximately .3 percent of funds awarded, the EPA entered into a $24 million interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to provide technical assistance to grant recipients by dedicating $400,000 per award.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pub. L. No. 119-21, signed on July 4, 2025, repealed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and rescinded unobligated funds. A termination memorandum issued to all grant recipients on August 7, 2025,stated, "As both the grant appropriations and the EPA's administrative cost appropriation are rescinded, the Agency no longer possesses either the substantive legal authority or the financial appropriations needed to continue implementation, oversight or monitoring for waste, fraud, or abuse of these grants or of Solar for All." The memorandum required recipients to provide final financial, technical, and other programmatic closeout reports within 120 days of grant closure. The memorandum further advised that recipients may use grant funds to close out their grants, including for reasonable and necessary costs that might occur after the date of the memorandum. Finally, recipients were instructed to promptly return to the EPA all unused grant funding that was not authorized to be retained after closeout of a grant.
Responsible Office
In March 2023, the EPA established the OGGRF to develop, implement, and oversee competitive awards programs that support deployment of projects to reduce or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, with an emphasis on low-income and disadvantaged communities. As of August 2025, the OGGRF resided in the Office of the Administrator. In September 2025, the EPA launched a reorganization plan that created the Office of Finance and Administration. In November 2025, the Agency moved the OGGRF to the Office of Finance and Administration under the Office of the Chief Grants Officer, where the OGGRF issplit into two branches within the Compliance and Oversight Division, one of which will be for the Solar for All program to conduct closeout activities.
Scope and Methodology
We conducted this performance audit from March to September 2025 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objective. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our conclusions based on our audit objective.
We assessed the internal controls necessary to satisfy our audit objective./1 In particular, we assessed the significant internal control components - as outlined in the U.S. Government Accountability Office's Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government - to the extent necessary to address our audit objective. Any potential internal control deficiencies we found are discussed in this report. Because our audit was limited to the internal control components deemed significant to our audit objective, it may not have disclosed all internal control deficiencies that may have existed at the time.
To accomplish our objective, we judgmentally selected the top five grant recipients based on total grant obligation amounts and reviewed statutes, regulations, and policies, as well as grant terms and conditions and grant recipient work plans. Additionally, we interviewed the OGGRF staff and obtained information and data from the OGGRF and grant recipients. We also obtained data from the EPA's financial system related to grant award amounts and drawdowns with assistance from OIG data analysis staff.
* * *
1 An entity designs, implements, and operates internal controls to achieve its objectives related to operations, reporting, and compliance. The U.S. Government Accountability Office sets internal control standards for federal entities in GAO-14-704G, Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government, issued September 10, 2014.
* * *
Results
Through our work, we identified the EPA Solar for All program's status of funds, top recipients, and risks and impacts.
Status of Funds
The EPA obligated all $7 billion of the Solar for All program funds when it awarded grants to 60 recipients. As of August 7, 2025, the 60 grant recipients had drawn down approximately $71 million, or 1.02 percent, of the obligated funds for various aspects of project planning and implementation. According to the OGGRF, as of July 2025, the Agency had spent approximately $15.3 million, or 51 percent, of the administrative funding. Also, as of August 12, 2025, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory had drawn down approximately $2.5 million, or 10.42 percent, of the interagency agreement funds for technical assistance provided to grant recipients.
Top Recipients
The EPA awarded the top five grant recipients approximately $1.3 billion, or 18.84 percent, of the $6.98 billion in obligated funds. The five recipients intended to use the funds to administer six grant programs across 48 states and territories as well as tribal lands in five states. Figure 1 shows the top five recipients and total rounded funds awarded.
* * *
Figure 1: The top five recipients and total funds awarded
Source: EPA Solar for All Program awards documentation. (EPA OIG table)
* * *
Program Risks
Based on our audit of the EPA's Solar for All program, we identified four risk areas that the EPA should consider, plan for, and address in its implementation of new grant programs. The risks relate to resources for oversight and controls in the form of subrecipient monitoring, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance plans.
Availability of Administrative Funding for Program Oversight: According to the OGGRF, the entire $30 million in administrative funding was anticipated to be exhausted during fiscal year 2026. The EPA previously had requested an additional $5 million in administrative funds to implement the program in fiscal years 2024 and 2025; however, the OGGRF stated that the funding was not allocated to the program. The OGGRF also stated that another EPA office provided the OGGRF with $1 million in surplus funds to be utilized through the end of fiscal year 2025.
Prior to the termination of the grants, the OGGRF would not have had enough administrative funding in place to perform oversight during the five-year period of performance for the 60 grants. According to the OGGRF, grants oversight would include project officers performing transaction testing, annual baseline monitoring, progress reviews, project file reviews, and on-site reviews as a best practice. The OGGRF project officers responsible for managing the top five grant recipients told us that they had not met with recipients in person, and OGGRF management stated that these in-person visits could not be performed due to funding constraints.
The Government Accountability Office's Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government requires entities to determine an oversight structure to fulfill responsibilities set forth by applicable laws and regulations. Even though, according to the OGGRF, the Agency rescinded the administrative funding for the terminated 60 grants, funding will be needed to fulfill closeout responsibilities. The EPA needs to ensure that administrative funding is available for oversight during all phases of any new grant program.
Monitoring of Subrecipient Awards: The OGGRF stated that details about subrecipients are documented in a recipient's individual work plan. However, based on our review of the documented responses, the OGGRF did not have a mechanism in place to track subrecipients' project and funding information to ensure that there was no duplication or overlap of projects or funding among the various subawards.
For example, during our review of recipients' work plans, we noted that there was a subrecipient who was also a recipient of another Solar for All program grant. The recipient could have potentially performed work in the same geographical area as both a recipient and a subrecipient, creating a risk of funding and overlap of projects. When we asked a project officer about the recipient also being a subrecipient, the project officer stated that the recipient was responsible for ensuring that there is no duplication of work. The Solar for All Terms and Conditions, dated December 3, 2024, states that project officers or their designees will oversee grant agreements through activities that could include "[c]losely monitoring the recipient's management and oversight of [s]ubrecipients..." Prior to the program termination, OGGRF management stated that it expected to complete its list of subrecipients to more easily track subrecipients across all grants. However, information identified by the OGGRF for tracking did not include potential project or funding overlap. If subrecipient monitoring is inadequate, there is a risk that federal grant funds may not be spent as intended. When performing oversight monitoring of recipients' work plans in new grant programs, the EPA should consider developing additional guidance on recipients' use of subrecipients as part of their oversight monitoring as suggested in the grant Uniform Guidance, 2 C.F.R. Sec. 200.331 ("Subrecipient and contractor determinations").
Timely Development of Standard Operating Procedures: As of June 23, 2025, the OGGRF had developed some standard operating procedures for its employees, but the office was still in the process of developing procedures that related to implementation, sufficient progress evaluations, quality assurance procedures, advance grant monitoring, project-file reviews, and onsite reviews. Prior to the Solar for All program termination, the OGGRF stated that its goal was to have most standard operating procedures completed by the end of August 2025, depending on program priorities, to help ensure that the office consistently implemented the program and performed oversight of program grantees. The Government Accountability Office's Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Governmentstates that management should have documentation for the effective design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of an entity's internal control system. Since the grants had already been awarded, standard operating procedures were essential to ensuring effective program implementation and operations. When implementing new grant programs, the Agency should develop standard operating procedures prior to awarding grants so that control mechanisms are already in place.
Timely Approval of Quality Assurance Plans: As of August 2025, the OGGRF had not submitted or obtained approval of the quality management plans and quality assurance project plans from the Agency's Enterprise Quality Management Division for approximately 50 out of 60 grant recipients (83 percent). The EPA's Directive No. CIO 2105-P-01.4, Environmental Information Quality Procedure, signed on March 20, 2024, requires that all assistance agreements involving environmental information operations develop a quality management plan and a quality assurance program plan prior to any information gathering work, or use, except in special circumstances. A lack of quality assurance measures could lead to inaccurate project data collection and reporting issues. OGGRF management stated that staff were taking steps to ensure that grant recipients did not estimate program outcomes, such as emissions reductions or household savings, prior to having approved quality assurance plans. When creating new grant programs, the EPA should ensure that the required Agency programs submit and obtain approval of quality plans in a timely manner.
External Impacts
Prior to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, several executive orders and presidential memorandums impacted Solar for All program implementation and operations. For example, Executive Order 14148, Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, issued on January 20, 2025, rescinded previous executive orders including some related to climate change which, according to the OGGRF, caused grant recipients to change how they determined eligible project areas. In addition, according to the OGGRF, the presidential memorandums titled Hiring Freeze and Extension of Hiring Freeze issued on January 20, 2025, and April 17, 2025, respectively, prevented the OGGRF from hiring additional staff to assist with implementation and oversight. OGGRF stated that, since January 1, 2025, it had lost 21 staff for various reasons, resulting in an approximately 29 percent overall reduction in staff.
The top five Solar for All program grant recipients noted that Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, issued on January 20, 2025, which instructed agencies to pause disbursement of funds, caused an approximately month-long pause in their ability to draw down funds to implement work plans. The EPA needs to consider any other impacts to the terminated grant recipients, such as documentation requirements and program costs, in addition to those associated with the pause in disbursement of funds, during the Agency's closeout of the program operations.
Conclusion
Given the descriptive nature of our objective to address status of funds, top recipients, and risk areas and impacts, we do not make any recommendations for the EPA. However, the EPA should consider the applicability of the risk areas we have flagged when implementing new programs. It is critical that the Agency consider the amount of funding needed for the full performance period of a program, track subawards to ensure no duplication of projects or funding, develop operating procedures at the start of a program for consistency in program operations, and approve quality assurance plans in a timely manner. Consideration of these areas will help the Agency ensure that it has effective oversight and program success as well as compliance with federal regulations and EPA policies for newly established programs.
cc: Lee Zeldin, Administrator
David Fotouhi, Deputy Administrator
Travis Voyles, Associate Deputy Administrator
Eric Amidon, Chief of Staff, Office of the Administrator
Wesley J. Carpenter, Deputy Chief of Staff for Management, Office of the Administrator Paige Hanson, Agency Follow-Up Official (the CFO)
Susan Perkins, Agency Follow-Up Coordinator
Jose Kercado, Agency Follow-Up Coordinator
Andrew LeBlanc, Agency Follow-Up Coordinator
Shay Bracey, Agency Follow-Up Coordinator
Sean Donahue, General Counsel
Sarah Talmage, Associate Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations
Cora Mandy, Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Affairs
Tyler Rubright, Acting Director, Continuous Improvement Division
Caitlin Schneider, Audit Follow-Up Coordinator, Office of the Administrator
Edith Chu, Audit Follow-Up Coordinator, Office of the Administrator
Shari Grossarth, OIG Liaison, Office of Policy, Office of the Administrator
Carolina Penalva-Arana, GAO Liaison, Office of Policy, Office of the Administrator
Gregory Scott, Director, Compliance & Oversight Division, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration.
Julie Zavala, Manager, Oversight of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Solar for All, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration
Aileen Nowlan, Manager, Oversight of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator Programs, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration
Nick Thorpe, Senior Advisor, Oversight of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Solar for All, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration
Melissa Hopkinson, Project Officer, Oversight of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Solar for All, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration
Vineet Pandharpurkar, Project Officer, Oversight of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Solar for All, Office of the Chief Grants Officer, Office of Finance and Administration
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-01/_epaoig_20260107-26-p-0008_cert.pdf
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: Report Calls for Increased Focus on Mariner Health and Well-Being, Prohibition of Alcohol for Crew of U.S. Vessels
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:* * *
Report Calls for Increased Focus on Mariner Health and Well-Being, Prohibition of Alcohol for Crew of U.S. Vessels
The U.S. maritime industry plays a critical role in the nation's economy and defense, but existing policies and practices fail to meet the needs of this large and crucial workforce. In recent years, high-profile instances of sexual misconduct involving alcohol use have put a spotlight on these challenges and prompted the need for action.
A new congressionally ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release: * * * Report Calls for Increased Focus on Mariner Health and Well-Being, Prohibition of Alcohol for Crew of U.S. Vessels The U.S. maritime industry plays a critical role in the nation's economy and defense, but existing policies and practices fail to meet the needs of this large and crucial workforce. In recent years, high-profile instances of sexual misconduct involving alcohol use have put a spotlight on these challenges and prompted the need for action. A new congressionallymandated report (https://www.nationalacademies.org/publications/29213) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for the prohibition of alcohol possession and use by crew on ships registered in the United States and systemic reforms to prevent interpersonal violence, including sexual misconduct, and to improve mariner health and well-being. With a focus on actions that can be taken by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the report also makes recommendations to improve training, credentialing, and recredentialing at maritime academies and throughout a mariner's career.
"Promoting health and wellness and preventing harm will drive long-term, meaningful change in the maritime industry," said Joshua M. Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement and distinguished professor of the practice at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Our recommendations seek to protect our mariners and ensure they have a work environment free of substance misuse and sexual misconduct."
Updating Policies on Alcohol Use and Intake
Misuse of alcohol on maritime vessels has led to accidents and incidents of harmful and dangerous behaviors, including sexual misconduct. The report recommends a prohibition of alcohol possession and use by crew on U.S.-flagged vessels and says the Coast Guard should also update maritime policies to align with those of other transportation industries on acceptable blood alcohol content (BAC) limits and institute reasonable-cause tests to identify mariners in violation of those policies. Alcohol should also be included in random testing programs, and monitoring and compliance practices should meet industry best practices.
Mariner credentialing should be updated to incorporate validated screening tools for alcohol and other substance misuse to help identify applicants at risk of impairment and assist in guiding them to appropriate interventions, the report says. Credentialed mariners should be required to disclose new convictions or administrative actions related to alcohol and substance misuse, which should be considered prior to credential renewal periods.
Prevention, Response, and Accountability
The committee found that existing policies pertaining to substance misuse and sexual misconduct are disjointed and often do not meet the standards of other safety-critical, high-reliability industries. The report urges the Coast Guard to implement better reporting policies that include appropriate amnesty for individuals reporting substance misuse and sexual misconduct, protecting people from retaliation, and mandatory trauma-informed training for personnel responding to such cases. Accountability mechanisms for captains and other senior leadership need to be strengthened, and research and guidelines on best practices should be developed and implemented.
Established in 2021, following allegations of sexual misconduct on commercial vessels, the Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture (EMBARC) program is a voluntary sexual-assault prevention and response initiative. The committee examined EMBARC and recommended that MARAD study the program further to determine its effectiveness in preventing sexual misconduct and other prohibited behavior on vessels. Additionally, the Coast Guard should identify and adopt industry-wide standards for sexual misconduct prevention and response that apply to all U.S.-flagged vessels, not just those that participate in EMBARC.
Mariner Well-Being and Mental Health
In addition to practical barriers that limit access to physical and mental health services while on duty, there are policies that can prevent mariners from accessing the care they need. The report recommends MARAD conduct research into different interventions and their impact on mariner health and well-being and assess current insurance coverage, employee assistance programs, and clinician licensing rules to ensure mariners have access to effective treatments and support programs.
State telemedicine laws can restrict medical providers in one state from providing care to mariners while on ships out of state. Congress is urged to consider legislation allowing medical professionals to provide care to mariners regardless of location.
The committee spoke to leaders of maritime education and training programs and identified challenges that they face with alcohol misuse and sexual misconduct on their campuses. To promote cultural changes and set high expectations for mariner behavior from the onset of their careers, MARAD should provide maritime academies and training institutes with guidance and training materials that address substance misuse and sexual misconduct. Adherence to the guidance should be evaluated for positive impact and included in the institutions' accreditation activities.
Data Collection
The committee noted that there is limited evidence on the true scope of substance misuse and its consequences in the maritime industry. The Coast Guard should initiate a data collection effort for the entire U.S. maritime industry, incorporating results from cadet surveys, alcohol and other substance testing, disciplinary actions for sexual misconduct, mariner surveys, and other relevant sources. The surveys should assess population-level prevalence of risky behaviors, trends over time, and the degree to which they are reported.
Undertaken by the Committee on Alcohol at Sea, the study was sponsored the U.S. Coast Guard.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/new-report-calls-for-increased-focus-on-mariner-health-and-well-being-prohibition-of-alcohol-for-crew-of-u-s-vessels
IDB Launches pound sterling1 Billion Fixed-Rate Benchmark Bond
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:* * *
IDB Launches pound sterling1 billion Fixed-Rate Benchmark Bond
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) completed a pound sterling1 billion fixed-rate benchmark bond issuance, its largest-ever transaction in sterling and its first benchmark issuance in the currency in 2026.
The bond reflects strong investor demand, with orders exceeding pound sterling2.2 billion, more than double the amount issued. This high level of interest underscores the Bank's solid credit and its long-standing presence ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release: * * * IDB Launches pound sterling1 billion Fixed-Rate Benchmark Bond The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) completed a pound sterling1 billion fixed-rate benchmark bond issuance, its largest-ever transaction in sterling and its first benchmark issuance in the currency in 2026. The bond reflects strong investor demand, with orders exceeding pound sterling2.2 billion, more than double the amount issued. This high level of interest underscores the Bank's solid credit and its long-standing presencein the international capital markets. The bond, which matures in July 2031, offers a fixed annual interest rate of 4.000 % and was priced in line with prevailing market conditions.
"We are pleased with the strong response to our largest sterling transaction to date in the primary market," said Laura Fan, IDB Head of Funding. "The high-quality demand we received reflects investors' confidence in the IDB and their continued interest in supporting sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean."
"Congratulations to the IDB team on an exceptional start to 2026 with their largest sterling-denominated transaction to date, reinforcing the issuer's premier standing among supranational, sovereign, and agency (SSA) investors," said Alex Paterson, Managing Director and head of SSA DCM at Barclays. "The strength of demand is a clear testament to IDB's thoughtful execution strategy and ability to time the market effectively, capitalizing on early-year momentum in sterling primary activity. Barclays was delighted to support this landmark transaction."
"IDB has opened 2026 on a strong footing, printing its largest sterling transaction to date off the back of its largest orderbook in the currency," said James Taunton, Managing Director and Head of Public Sector Origination, Europe, at RBC Capital Markets. "The fact IDB was able to achieve this outcome at the tightest reoffer spread for a new July-2031 issuance thus far this year underlines its strong investor recognition within the GBP market. Many congratulations to the team involved."
"Congratulations to the IDB team on today's record-breaking sterling transaction. The deal attracted exceptional demand, resulting in issuer's biggest ever orderbook and syndication size for sterling trade, a testament to IDB's credit quality and strong investor following," said Kamini Sumra, Managing Director at BofA Securities. "An excellent outcome to kick-start the 2026 funding programme. BofA was delighted to be involved."
"This transaction marks a significant milestone for IDB, representing their largest sterling issuance to date, their largest and most granular orderbook, and the tightest spread to SONIA for a July 2031 maturity in the SSA space year to date," said Karen Manku, Director, SSA DCM, at NatWest. "These achievements underscore the issuer's longstanding commitment to the sterling market, and we are proud to have been involved at NatWest."
Bond Summary Terms:
Issuer: ... Inter-American Development Bank (Ticker: IADB)
Issuer rating: ... Aaa / AAA (Stable / Stable)
Amount: ... GPB 1 billion
Settlement date: ... January 16, 2026
Coupon: ... 4.000%
Coupon payment dates: ... July 31 annually (short-first)
Maturity date: ... July 21, 2031
Issue price: ... 99.761%
Issue yield: ... 4.053% annual / 4.013% semi-annual
Reoffer spread (bps): ... SONIA MS+40bps / UKT 0 1/4 07/31/31 + 15.7bps
Listing: ... London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market
Clearing systems: ... Euroclear / Clearstream Luxemburg
Joint lead managers: ... Barclays, BofA Securities, NatWest, RBC Capital Markets
ISIN: ... XS3272092480
Distribution Summary:
By Geography ... % ... Investor Type ... %
UK ... 66% ... Banks ... 73%
Europe / Middle East / Africa (excl. UK) ... 24% ... Central Banks / Official Institutions ... 16%
Asia ... 10% ... Fund Manager / Insurance ... 11%
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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 Bank 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. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en
Information on bonds for investors is available on the IDB website: https://www.iadb.org/investors
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*/ This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities of the Inter-American Development Bank. Any offering of IDB securities will be made only by means of a prospectus or other definitive offering document that contains important information about the securities, the offering and IDB. Offerings of securities will be made only in compliance with applicable laws.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-launches-ps1-billion-fixed-rate-benchmark-bond
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.88 Trillion in December
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:* * *
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.88 Trillion in December
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.88 trillion as of December 2025. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $52 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $15.7 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 715,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the December issuance include:
* $49.2 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $2.7 ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release: * * * Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.88 Trillion in December Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.88 trillion as of December 2025. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $52 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $15.7 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 715,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date. Key highlights from the December issuance include: * $49.2 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS. * $2.7billion in Ginnie Mae I MBS, including $2.6 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 144,000 American households, including over 54,000 first-time homebuyers.
For detailed information on monthly MBS issuance, unpaid principal balance, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issuance, and a broader analysis of global market trends, visit Ginnie Mae Disclosure (https://www.ginniemae.gov/data_and_reports/reporting/Pages/monthly_issuance_reports.aspx).
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About Ginnie Mae
Ginnie Mae is a wholly government-owned corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Additional information about Ginnie Mae is available at www.ginniemae.gov and on X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ginniemae.gov/newsroom/Pages/PressReleaseDispPage.aspx?ParamID=370
Amtrak Offers $250 USA Rail Passes for a Limited Time
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:* * *
Amtrak Offers $250 USA Rail Passes for a Limited Time
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Enjoy ten trip segments over 30 days across most destinations nationwide
WASHINGTON - Adventure awaits! Amtrak invites travelers to explore our country's culture and history on America's Railroad, journeying through the charming towns, iconic cities, and distinct landscapes that have shaped our nation for generations. To coincide with the celebration of America's 250 th birthday, the ' Adventure Awaits Sale ' unlocks coast-to-coast, multi-stop ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news: * * * Amtrak Offers $250 USA Rail Passes for a Limited Time * Enjoy ten trip segments over 30 days across most destinations nationwide WASHINGTON - Adventure awaits! Amtrak invites travelers to explore our country's culture and history on America's Railroad, journeying through the charming towns, iconic cities, and distinct landscapes that have shaped our nation for generations. To coincide with the celebration of America's 250 th birthday, the ' Adventure Awaits Sale ' unlocks coast-to-coast, multi-stopadventures, with access to more than 500 destinations nationwide for just $250.
Offer : Purchase the USA Rail Pass for just $250 (regularly $499)
When: Available for tickets booked from Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026
For Travel: 120 days from purchase; 30 days from first trip - for only $25 per trip
Type : Coach
Select Routes: Adirondack, Amtrak Virginia, Cascades, California Zephyr, Capitol Corridor, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian/Piedmont, City of New Orleans, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Downeaster, Empire Builder, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Heartland Flyer, Hiawatha, Illinois Services, Keystone Service, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf, Michigan Services, Missouri River Runner, Northeast Regional, Pacific Surfliner, Pennsylvanian, San Joaquins, Silver Service, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, and the Vermonter.
For route specific details, visit Amtrak.com/Train-Routes
Why Choose Rail? Amtrak's USA Rail Pass makes it easy to plan a getaway, visit loved ones, or take business trips, all while enjoying the convenience and comfort of rail travel. The USA Rail Pass is valid for 10 segments over 30 days of travel. From scenic long-distance journeys to short regional trips or anything in between, Amtrak offers a comfortable and convenient way to travel. USA Rail Pass holders can enjoy Amtrak's spacious Coach accommodations, which feature wide reclining seats, ample legroom, no middle seats, and picturesque windows to see some of the best views our country has to offer without being stuck in traffic.
As Heard Here : "With ten trip segments in 30 days, the USA Rail Pass offers travelers the freedom to discover our nation's historic destinations, scenic routes, and cultural hubs at their own pace, while avoiding the stress of flying or driving," said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. "Our limited time 'Adventure Awaits Sale' encourages guests to take the multi-ride journey, which they've always dreamed of, at significant savings."
Earn More and Make Your Trip More Valuable: Joining Amtrak Guest Rewards is free, and upon enrollment, members can immediately start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel and other exciting redemption options. Members earn points on every dollar spent on Amtrak travel, plus bonuses for Business Class travel and Acela First Class travel. Members can book reward travel to experience Amtrak Across America with popular city pairs available for as few as 400 points. Join today.
Details : USA Rail Pass is available for 10 rides (segments) in Coach and is valid for travel on most Amtrak routes with no blackout dates. Customers must travel with the pass within 120 days of purchase and within 30 days after travel of the first segment. Amtrak Guest Rewards members earn two points per dollar spent on each USA Rail Pass following travel on the first segment. For full terms and conditions on Amtrak's 'Adventure Awaits Sale' and to make a reservation, visit Amtrak.com/Tickets/Departure-Rail-Pass.html. Customers can also book using the Amtrak app.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/01/amtrak-offers-250-usa-rail-passes-for-a-limited-time/