OIG gives perspectives on USDA and Recovery Act
August 28, 2014 | 02:08 PM
The Agriculture Department took steps to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 “in a manner that was transparent, effective and efficient, “but some problems still emerged,” the USDA Office of Inspector General said in a report released this week.
The Recovery Act, the economic stimulus measure enacted to counter the effects of the Great Recession, provided USDA $28 billion in budget authority, including almost $20 billion in increased spending for the food stamp program, to stimulate the economy
But the OIG said that some “shovel-ready” projects did not quickly stimulate the economy, oversight could have been better, some quantifiable outcomes were not meaningful or realistic, and information on whether new jobs were created or jobs preserved is weak.
The report is based on numerous audits conducted by the OIG.
▪ USDA Office of the Inspector General — Lessons Learned from the Recovery Act: An OIG Perspective
The Recovery Act, the economic stimulus measure enacted to counter the effects of the Great Recession, provided USDA $28 billion in budget authority, including almost $20 billion in increased spending for the food stamp program, to stimulate the economy
But the OIG said that some “shovel-ready” projects did not quickly stimulate the economy, oversight could have been better, some quantifiable outcomes were not meaningful or realistic, and information on whether new jobs were created or jobs preserved is weak.
The report is based on numerous audits conducted by the OIG.
▪ USDA Office of the Inspector General — Lessons Learned from the Recovery Act: An OIG Perspective
