White House Urges Agencies to Intensify Oversight of Recovery Act Funds

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2010 – The White House has issued a presidential memorandum directing government agencies to intensify efforts to improve reporting compliance by recipients of funds they received thanks to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The act provided $7.2 billion to fund project

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2010 – The White House issued a presidential memorandum directing government agencies to intensify efforts to improve compliance by recipients of funds received from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The act requires recipients to submit quarterly reports on how they are putting the funds to work. In the most recent quarter, the vast majority of recipients complied with the law and submitted reports on 65,429 awards. However, 1,036 recipients failed to file, according to a statement from the White House.

The memorandum reinforces the administration’s emphasis on accountability and requires agencies to intensify their efforts by “wherever authorized and appropriate, terminating awards, reclaiming misused funds or pursuing suspension and disbarment of non-reporting grant recipients and contractors,” according to the statement.

The act provided $7.2 billion to fund projects expanding broadband access and adoption.