According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the federal government reported $236 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2023.
"Specifically, GAO has noted that the federal government is unable to determine the full extent of its improper payments or to reasonably assure that appropriate actions are taken to reduce them." Improper payments are when the agency in question overpaid or sent funds to the wrong person.
Federal Improper Payments Improper federal payments over the last two decades.
"Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments," GAO said.
"The Department of Housing and Urban Development also did not report improper payment estimates for the Office of Public and Indian Housing's Tenant Based Rental Assistance program and the Office of Multifamily Housing's Project-Based Rental Assistance program. As a result, the government-wide estimate potentially does not represent the full extent of improper payments." While improper payments were more than $200 billion in the last fiscal year, there was a slight decrease in the overpayments this year from the year before.
The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 and corresponding guidance from the Office of Management and Budget require reporting on payments of this kind from the relevant agencies.
"Reducing improper payments is critical to safeguarding federal funds," the federal watchdog added.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e0f897fc-f137-11ee-811d-5b4aa35ab139.html
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