Hearing – Inspectors General for the Department of Transportation & the Department of H.U.D.

The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing with the acting Inspectors General (IGs) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to discuss oversight of their agencies, focusing on procurement, contracting, budget allocations, and fraud prevention. The IGs reported on their efforts to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, highlighting significant improper payments and the need for improved data infrastructure and staffing to enhance oversight. The DOT IG emphasized challenges in modernizing air traffic control systems, safety improvements, and managing large infrastructure grants, while the HUD IG discussed issues with grant management, housing assistance programs, and the impact of staffing shortages on program effectiveness. Members expressed concerns about the administration's hiring freezes, delays in supplemental disaster funding, and the withholding of funds from certain states, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in federal spending. The hearing also addressed specific program challenges such as the HUD VASH program for veterans, contract tower operations, and commercial driver's license fraud. Both IGs committed to continuing their oversight roles and working with Congress to improve program outcomes and safeguard taxpayer funds.