US DOI OIG Reports

BOR Should Improve Transparency in IRA-Funded Drought Mitigation Agreements

The DOI OIG completed Audit Report 2023-WR-035 on April 10, 2026, reviewing the Bureau of Reclamation's administration of Inflation Reduction Act-funded drought mitigation agreements. The audit found that BOR complied with required laws and regulations when awarding drought mitigation funds. The OIG issued three recommendations for improvement, focusing on enhancing transparency and verifying that funds are not awarded to excluded parties. No specific compliance violations or enforcement actions were identified.

Bureau of Reclamation Needs To Improve Transparency for IRA-Funded Water Conservation in Upper Colorado River Basin

The DOI Office of Inspector General issued Audit Report 2024-WR-007 on April 10, 2026, finding that the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC) misclassified its agreements and failed to verify whether subcontractors appeared on an exclusions list prior to awarding Inflation Reduction Act-funded water conservation funds. The audit made three recommendations for corrective action to improve transparency and compliance in federal funding disbursement. Federal agencies and contractors receiving IRA infrastructure funds should review their subcontractor verification procedures and agreement classification practices.