United States Department of Agriculture

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Annual Plan

Fiscal Year 2020 

January 2020
Highlights of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) 

Annual Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020

MISSION GOALS

MISSION GOAL 1: STRENGTHEN USDA’S ABILITY TO PROTECT PUBLIC 

HEALTH AND SAFETY AND TO SECURE AGRICULTURAL AND DEPARTMENT 

RESOURCES.

• Continue to investigate threats involving the safety of meat, poultry, 

and egg products to ensure timely response and initiation of appropriate 

corrective actions to protect the public from food tampering or tainted 

food.

• Continue to evaluate the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s 

(FSIS) controls over meat, poultry, and egg product labels to ensure 

FSIS’ approval of labels is accurate and supported.

MISSION GOAL 2: STRENGTHEN USDA’S ABILITY TO DELIVER PROGRAM 

ASSISTANCE WITH INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVENESS.

• Continue to evaluate the Farm Service Agency’s design and 

administration of the Market Facilitation Program.

• Develop business intelligence products to analyze USDA program data in 

order to identify potential relationships, patterns, anomalies, and trends 

to be addressed through audits or investigations, as appropriate.

• Continue to investigate allegations concerning Food and Nutrition 

Service feeding programs.

MISSION GOAL 3: STRENGTHEN USDA’S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE RESULTSORIENTED PERFORMANCE.

• Continue to evaluate USDA’s oversight of the civil rights complaints 

process.

• Address allegations of employee misconduct.

• Continue to leverage available Sensitive Investigations Office resources 

in support of investigations of senior management misconduct, 

whistleblower reprisal complaints, and other statutorily-mandated 

requirements/investigations, as well as allegations of a sensitive nature.
Message from the

INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 describes how 

OIG will accomplish its mission of promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and 

integrity in the delivery of USDA programs throughout the fiscal year.

Our Annual Plan is aligned with our recently published Five-Year Strategic Mission 

and Diversity and Inclusion Plan—Fiscal Years 2020–2024, which established our 

current goals, strategies, and performance measures. As part of this update, we merged 

the principles and commitments we previously maintained in a separate Diversity 

and Inclusion Strategic Plan. We believe that promoting diversity and inclusion is so 

essential to our overall success, mission fulfillment, and employee satisfaction that 

we are embedding these principles in our more traditional strategic goals and our 

organizational culture. To cover the breadth and depth of these important pursuits, 

our Strategic Plan includes two new internal, operational goals, which have also been 

included in our Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2020.

As always, our Annual Plan focuses on critical USDA programs and activities of 

national importance. Our audits continue to address the need for safety and security 

in Department programs and resources. For example, we are continuing to evaluate 

the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) controls over meat, poultry, and egg 

product labels to ensure FSIS’ approval of labels is accurate and supported.

OIG also helps USDA strengthen program integrity. For example, we are reviewing 

the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) design and administration of the Market Facilitation 

Program, which provides a total of $25.1 billion in assistance to farmers affected by 

trade tariffs. We also plan to determine whether State agencies have adequate controls 

in place to reasonably ensure sponsors and sites that participate in both the Summer 

Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are 

operating under program requirements.
We also investigate allegations of purported criminal activity in USDA programs 

to ensure entitlements and benefits are distibuted based on eligibility and used for 

their intended purpose. These programs include hurricane and other disaster relief, 

assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 

the Emergency Conservation Program, crop insurance indemnity payments, and other 

USDA-funded grants and loans.

Our audits and investigations help USDA strengthen the Department’s ability to 

achieve results-oriented performance. They focus on areas such as improved financial 

management, accountability, and outreach activities. For example, we are continuing 

to evaluate USDA’s oversight of the civil rights complaints process. In addition, our 

investigators address allegations of employee misconduct throughout the Department. 

The Office of Data Sciences (ODS) provides visibility into data and delivers decisionready information for use by OIG. In particular, ODS is developing evidence-based 

business intelligence products that will further enhance OIG’s ability to plan and 

execute its core mission and administrative functions.

This Annual Plan also demonstrates our commitment to improving our own operational 

efficiency and effectiveness. This year, we have several initiatives to foster employee 

engagement and improve communications; implement enterprise risk management and 

evidence-based decisionmaking; and improve our management of budgetary, personnel, 

and physical space resources.

This Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 recommits OIG to accomplishing our strategic 

goals. OIG looks forward to working with the Secretary and Congress as we strive to 

provide effective oversight of USDA programs in fiscal year (FY) 2020.

Inspector General
Contents

Introduction ................................................. 1

FY 2020 Work Plan ........................................... 2

Conclusion ................................................. 13

Appendix A: Related Materials and Information ............ 14

Appendix B: OIG Organizational Chart: January 1, 2020.... 15

Appendix C: OIG’s Areas of Responsibility .................. 16

Appendix D: Distribution of Audit Resources by Agency .... 18

Appendix E: Distribution of Investigative Resources by 

Agency .................................................... 19

Appendix F.1: FY 2020 Audits Planned and in Progress ...... 20

Appendix F.2: FY 2020 Inspections Planned and in 

Progress .................................................... 24

Appendix G: Overview of OIG Plans for FY 2020 ............ 25

Appendix H: FY 2020 Performance Measures ............... 26

Appendix I: Acronyms and Abbreviations .................. 27
1 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

INTRODUCTION

OIG’s Five-Year Strategic Mission and Diversity and Inclusion Plan—Fiscal 

Years 2020–2024 establishes the agency’s mission, vision, goals, strategies, and 

performance measures. OIG is committed to providing a positive return on U.S. 

taxpayers’ investment by planning our work to address the issues of greatest 

importance and achieve the most significant results.

OIG continues its work to ensure the overall integrity of payments in 

USDA programs and the effectiveness of those programs. This Annual Plan

presents the FY 2020 work that OIG intends to undertake in support of its 

Five-Year Strategic Mission and Diversity and Inclusion Plan—Fiscal Years 

2020–2024.

Resources and Organization

We assessed the work for this Annual Plan relative to the resources 

that we believe will be available to accomplish it. Appendix B shows our 

current organizational structure, and Appendix C describes our functional 

responsibilities.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 2 

Mission Goals

The following is a summary of the work we plan in support of our FY 2020 

strategic mission goals.

Goal 1: 

Strengthen USDA’s ability to protect public health and safety 

and to secure agricultural and Department resources.

We expect to use approximately 21 percent of our audit and 10 percent of our 

investigative resources in achieving this goal.1 Our audit work focuses on 

assessing management control systems designed to ensure that the Department 

is effectively protecting consumers and the Nation’s agricultural resources. Our 

audit work also focuses on the security and management of the Department’s 

information technology (IT) resources. Our investigative work focuses on 

agricultural inspection activities related to organically-grown items, employee 

safety, smuggling of prohibited food items, homeland security concerns, and 

crimes impacting animal health and safety.

For FY 2020, our priorities include the following: 

● Continue to investigate threats involving the safety of meat, 

poultry, and egg products to ensure timely response and 

appropriate corrective actions are taken to protect the public 

from food tampering or tainted food.

● Provide technical oversight for the FY 2020 Federal Information 

Security Modernization Act (FISMA) audit.

● Continue to evaluate APHIS’ oversight of the National 

Veterinary Stockpile to ensure that it is prepared to 

appropriately respond to animal diseases affecting human 

health and the economy.

1 While all OIG components contribute to each goal, we can currently quantify and project only 

the audit and investigation resources employed.

FY 2020 WORK PLAN
3 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

● Continue to evaluate FSIS’ controls over meat, poultry, and egg 

product labels to ensure FSIS’ approval of labels is accurate and 

supported.

● Continue to evaluate the adequacy of APHIS’ controls to ensure 

dog breeder compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and follow 

up on agency actions taken in response to OIG’s May 2010 report 

entitled APHIS Animal Care Program Inspections of Problematic 

Dealers (Audit Report 33002-4-SF).

● Continue to determine if selected mission areas have effective 

security controls in place for access management and logging.

● Evaluate APHIS’ oversight over: (1) activities to prevent the 

introduction and/or spread of program diseases; (2) responses to 

incidents of emerging and re-emerging diseases; and (3) targeted 

surveillance around geographic areas where a domestic program 

or foreign animal disease has been identified in livestock or 

wildlife.

● Continue to engage in animal fighting investigative initiatives. 

● Continue to participate in a liaison capacity with the 

USDA Security Council to enhance the safety of USDA personnel.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 4 

Goal 2: 

Strengthen USDA’s ability to deliver program assistance 

with integrity and effectiveness.

We expect to use approximately 34 percent of our audit and 80 percent of our 

investigative resources to accomplish this goal. Our focus includes assessing 

internal controls and identifying risk indicators that should increase both 

OIG’s and USDA’s ability to detect and prevent program abuse and criminal 

activity. Our investigative work focuses on integrity in the various benefit and 

entitlement programs of USDA, including a variety of programs that provide 

payments directly or indirectly to individuals and/or entities.

Our FY 2020 priorities include the following:

● Continue to evaluate the oversight and delivery of Florida’s 

Citrus Recovery Block Grant for losses resulting from Hurricane 

Irma. Specifically, we will review the implementation of the 

block grant and determine whether grant payments were 

awarded to eligible producers for eligible purposes.

● Continue to identify and evaluate the Agricultural Marketing 

Service’s (AMS) management controls in place over the 

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Specifically, we will 

evaluate the process used by AMS to award and disburse grant 

funds to States, as well as the process used to monitor the 

grants.

● Continue to evaluate FSA’s design and administration of the 

Market Facilitation Program.

● Continue to evaluate FSA’s administration and oversight of the 

Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program.

● Continue to inspect the timeliness of the disbursement of the 

$600 million Disaster Nutrition Assistance Grant to Puerto 

Rico.
5 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

● Determine whether State agencies have adequate controls

in place to reasonably ensure the sponsors and sites that

participate in both SFSP and CACFP are operating under

program requirements.

● Review controls over the Market Access Program and

determine whether effective policies and procedures have been

implemented to evaluate participant eligibility, select proposals,

and allocate funding.

● Develop business intelligence products to analyze

USDA program data in order to identify potential relationships,

patterns, anomalies, and trends to be addressed through audits

or investigations, as appropriate.

● Investigate allegations of fraud in USDA’s hurricane and other

disaster relief and assistance programs such as crop insurance,

indemnity payments, and grants and loans.

● Continue participation in multi-jurisdictional identity theft/

benefit fraud task force and/or working group initiatives.

● Continue to investigate allegations concerning Food and

Nutrition Service (FNS) feeding programs (i.e., SFSP, CAFCP,

National School Lunch Program, and Special Supplemental

Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)).

● Review and investigate allegations of fraud and

mismanagement in FSA and Risk Management Agency (RMA)

programs.
ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 6 

● Investigate allegations concerning the FSA Market Facilitation

Program trade aid to farmers.

● Continue to engage in investigations involving Foreign

Agricultural Service (FAS) and USDA overseas funding.
7 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Goal 3: 

Strengthen USDA’s ability to achieve results-oriented 

performance.

We expect to use approximately 45 percent of our audit and 10 percent of our 

investigative resources to accomplish this goal. Our audit focus is on such areas 

as improved financial management, accountability, and outreach activities. 

Our investigative focus is on areas such as IT security and management and 

employee misconduct.

In FY 2020, our mandated and priority work includes the following:

● Conduct audits of the FY 2019–2020 USDA consolidated 

financial statements and the financial statements of five standalone agencies and entities. These agencies are the Commodity 

Credit Corporation (CCC), the Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation, FNS, the Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(NRCS), and Rural Development.

● Continue to evaluate USDA’s oversight of the civil rights 

complaints process.

● Continue to consolidate the relevant results and common 

control issues identified by OIG on six SFSP audits at 

FNS and four States. Also, continue to determine whether any 

additional controls are needed to enhance SFSP efficiency and 

effectiveness.

● Determine whether USDA research agencies are facing 

challenges to accomplishing USDA’s mission of producing 

scientific research products.

● Determine USDA’s compliance with the Geospatial Data Act of 

2018.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 8 

● Determine the implementation status, effectiveness, and 

sustainability of USDA’s Centers of Excellence initiative and 

evaluate its compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

● Address allegations of employee misconduct.

● Through the Sensitive Investigations Office, address allegations 

of senior management misconduct, whistleblower reprisal 

complaints, other statutorily-mandated requirements/

investigations, and sensitive allegations.

● Continue to direct Technical Crimes Division resources to 

investigate allegations involving child pornography.

● Enhance USDA employee awareness of the whistleblower 

protection requirements.
9 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Operational Goals

Goal 1: 

Advance a creative, forward-thinking organization by 

leveraging the strength of a high-performing, diverse, and 

inclusive workforce.

This operational goal and the priorities below will provide critical support to 

OIG efforts to achieve our mission goals and priorities. We are committed to 

building a high-performing workforce that values diversity and inclusion and 

strengthening OIG’s organizational culture.

Our FY 2020 priorities include the following:

● Continue to advance a culture of inclusiveness at all levels 

by fostering a fair, open, diverse, and cooperative working 

environment.

● Strive to sustain a model equal employment opportunity (EEO) 

program.

● Increase OIG’s onboard staffing by hiring well-qualified and 

diverse individuals through programs, hiring authorities, and 

partnerships that attract candidates from all segments of 

society.

● Continue to identify, evaluate, and implement improvements 

to OIG’s new employee onboarding program to improve new 

employees’ initial work experience and enhance retention. 

● Continue to retain and develop skilled and committed employees 

by implementing a comprehensive succession plan that aligns 

and integrates with OIG’s mission and culture.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 10 

● Continue to provide an environment and framework that 

empowers employees to participate as active owners in their 

performance and career development.

● Continue to foster a culture that encourages collaboration, 

flexibility, and fairness to inspire all individuals to achieve 

superior results in support of organizational goals.

● Pursue workplace policies that maximize work-life flexibility.

● Continue to assess and employ new methodologies and practices 

to enhance internal communications.
11 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Goal 2: 

Advance OIG operations and efficiency by embracing 

continuous improvement and optimizing enterprise resources.

This operational goal and the priorities below will provide critical support to 

OIG efforts to achieve our mission goals and priorities. We are committed 

to continuous improvement and increased efficiency and effectiveness in our 

administrative operations.

Our FY 2020 priorities include the following:

● Develop and adopt an enterprise risk profile to include 

mitigation strategies.

● Assess requirements and develop processes necessary to 

establish the groundwork for evidence-based decisionmaking 

functions that align with the principles of the Foundations for 

Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 and the Federal Data 

Strategy framework.

● Continue to reduce OIG’s space footprint and costs while 

creating a more functional and efficient workplace that focuses 

on collaboration.

● Continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of OIG’s 

budget execution activities, which includes ensuring the 

effectiveness of internal controls over operations and reporting 

and equitable and consistent spending throughout the fiscal 

year.

● Improve OIG’s IT operations by upgrading our email exchange 

environment, replacing end-of-life equipment, and acquiring 

and deploying modernized IT software and hardware tools to 

enhance OIG’s operational capabilities.

● Improve OIG’s emergency preparedness by implementing a new 

Continuity of Operations Plan and conducting a test exercise.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 12 

● Continue to provide timely and reliable legal and management 

advice, reports, and services to support the effective functioning 

of all OIG components.

● Continue to support the integrity and efficiency of OIG 

operations by maintaining an effective quality assurance and 

internal review program.

● Continue to leverage existing OIG resources to update and 

streamline programmatic operating policies, procedures, and 

workflows, as well as enhance internal controls to ensure proper 

oversight.
13 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

In developing this Annual Plan, we assessed the intended work’s strategic 

alignment and importance, anticipated outcomes, and resource requirements. 

We believe it represents a balanced and achievable set of performance 

objectives. Adjustments may become necessary due to shifting priorities, 

available resources, or other unforeseen circumstances, such as requests from 

the Secretary, Departmental leaders, or Congress. Throughout the fiscal year, 

we will measure our progress towards achieving the performance objectives and 

will report our results through our semiannual reports to Congress.

CONCLUSION
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 14 

Five-Year Strategic Mission and Diversity and Inclusion Plan—Fiscal Years 

2020–2024:

https://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/USDA_OIG_2020_Five_Year_Plan.pdf

USDA Management Challenges (September 2019): 

https://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/MgmtChallenges2019.pdf

OIG Plan—Oversight of Disaster Funding:

https://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/Oversight-of-Disaster-Funding180914.pdf 

APPENDIX A: RELATED MATERIALS 

AND INFORMATION 
15 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

APPENDIX B: OIG ORGANIZATIONAL 

CHART: JANUARY 1, 2020
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 16 

Audit

The Office of Audit (OA) examines the economy and efficiency of 

USDA programs and operations, including program results, compliance with 

applicable laws and regulations, and the accuracy of financial reports. While 

most audit work is done by in-house staff, OA also contracts with certified 

public accountants for some work and oversees the quality of work completed 

by auditors under contract to other USDA agencies. OIG audits are completed 

in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, published by the 

U.S. Government Accountability Office. In addition, OA performs inspections 

conducted in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity 

and Efficiency’s Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation.

Investigations

The Office of Investigations utilizes specific law enforcement activities, tools, 

and techniques, including use of asset forfeiture, to conduct investigations and 

prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the programs and operations of USDA. 

Investigative work may result in judicial and administrative actions to resolve 

allegations and to prevent and deter future instances of illegal or fraudulent 

acts or employee misconduct. The OIG Hotline serves as a key operational 

function for reporting potential violations of laws and regulations relating to 

USDA programs.

Data Sciences

ODS provides visibility into data and delivers decision-ready information to 

stakeholders. ODS develops and deploys advanced analytical and data mining 

tools for fraud detection and performance risk assessments that generate highvolume investigative leads and audit objectives. Tools may include predictive 

data analysis, statistical sampling, computer matching, and data mining of 

USDA programs and operations.

Compliance and Integrity

The Office of Compliance and Integrity (OCI) performs independent quality 

assurance and internal control reviews of OIG operations. OCI’s reviews 

provide senior management with reasonable assurance that OIG operations and 

activities are being carried out in accordance with policy. OCI also investigates 

allegations of criminal and/or administrative misconduct by OIG employees.

APPENDIX C: OIG’S AREAS OF 

RESPONSIBILITY 
17 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Counsel

The Office of Counsel (OC) provides legal advice and representation on issues 

arising during the course of OIG work including audits, investigations, 

inspections, data analysis, and reviews, as well as on internal administrative 

and management issues. OC also manages OIG’s Congressional and media 

relations, ethics, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act programs, as well 

as reviews of proposed legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Diversity and Conflict Resolution

The Office of Diversity and Conflict Resolution (DCR) advises OIG leadership 

on applying the principles of civil rights, EEO, dispute resolution, diversity, 

and inclusion on matters affecting the OIG workforce, program activities, 

and development of policy. DCR also guides OIG staff through the use of the 

Federal sector employment discrimination complaints and dispute resolution 

processes, as appropriate.

Management

The Office of Management (OM) ensures that funding, technology and 

equipment, policies, and staff are in place so that OIG can function efficiently 

and effectively. Responsibilities include asset management, budget formulation 

and execution, human resources, cross-OIG workplace training, IT, and policy 

preparation for OIG. OM also facilitates OIG’s planning activities and prepares 

cross-cutting documents on OIG accomplishments.
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 18 

FY 2020 PLANNED

Mission Area Agency %

NATURAL RESOURCES AND 

ENVIRONMENT—3.5%

FS 3.5

FARM PRODUCTION AND 

CONSERVATION—13.9%

CCC 0.2

FSA 5.9

NRCS 2.0

RMA 5.8

RURAL DEVELOPMENT—9.4% Rural Development 5.6

Rural Housing Service (RHS) 2.8

Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 1.0

FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER 

SERVICES—10.0%

FNS 10.0

FOOD SAFETY—5.7% FSIS 5.7

MARKETING AND REGULATORY 

PROGRAMS—21.6%

AMS 5.3

APHIS 16.3

RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND 

ECONOMICS—3.3%

Economic Research Service (ERS) 1.3

National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture (NIFA)

2.0

MULTIPLE AGENCIES—21.5% Multi-agency 21.5

EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT AND OTHER 

ENTITIES—9.1%

Departmental Management (DM) 2.6

Office of the Chief Financial Officer 

(OCFO)

2.0

Office of the Assistant Secretary For 

Civil Rights (OASCR)

4.5

TRADE AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL 

AFFAIRS—2.0%

FAS 2.0

APPENDIX D: DISTRIBUTION OF AUDIT 

RESOURCES BY AGENCY 
19 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

FY 2020 ANTICIPATED 

Mission Area Agency %

NATURAL RESOURCES AND 

ENVIRONMENT—3%

FS 3.0

FARM PRODUCTION AND 

CONSERVATION—18.8%

FSA 12.0

NRCS 0.8

RMA 6.0

RURAL DEVELOPMENT—4.2% RUS 0.2

RHS 3.0

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 1.0

FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER 

SERVICES—55%

FNS 55.0

FOOD SAFETY—3% FSIS 3.0

MARKETING AND REGULATORY 

PROGRAMS—12%

AMS 3.0

APHIS 9.0

RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND 

ECONOMICS—2%

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 1.5

NIFA 0.5

TRADE AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL 

AFFAIRS—1% 

FAS 1.0

EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT AND OTHER 

ENTITIES—1%

DM, OCFO, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer, OASCR, OIG, 

and other entities

1.0

APPENDIX E: DISTRIBUTION OF 

INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES BY AGENCY 
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 20 

Agency Title Goal

AMS * AMS Controls Over Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2

AMS Controls Over its Contract Closeout Process 3

* AMS Storage and Handling of Commodities for International Food 

Assistance Programs

1

Food Purchase and Distribution Program 2

International Food Aid—Export Commodity Quality Assurance 

Procedures

1

* Oversight of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion 

Program

2

APHIS * Animal Care Program Oversight of Dog Breeders 1

Cattle Health Program Oversight 1

* Controls Over Select Agents 1

* Followup on Smuggling, Interdiction, and Trade Compliance Unit 1

* Followup to APHIS’ Controls Over Licensing of Animal Exhibitors 1

* National Veterinary Stockpile Oversight 1

* Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention 

Program Grants 

2

Plant Protection and Quarantine Inspections—Hawaii 2

CCC * CCC’s Financial Statements for FYs 2019 and 2018 3

CCC’s Financial Statements for FYs 2020 and 2019 3

DM * Section 2501 Program Grants Awarded FY 2018 2

FAS Controls Over the Market Access Program 2

* Oversight of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program 2

FNS * Assessment of WIC National Program Integrity Monitoring Branch 

Activities

3

CACFP in the Southeast Region 2

Child Nutrition Program Dual Participation 2

* Consolidated Report of FNS and Selected State Agencies’ 

Controls Over SFSP

3

* FNS’ Financial Statements for FYs 2019 and 2018 3

FNS’ Financial Statements for FYs 2020 and 2019 3

APPENDIX F.1: FY 2020 AUDITS 

PLANNED AND IN PROGRESS
21 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Agency Title Goal

* Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations 2

Implementation of SNAP Online Transactions 2

* Nationwide Implementation of WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) 2

* SNAP Employment and Training Pilot Program 2

* SNAP Waiver Process 3

FS * Controls Over Forest Health Management Cooperative Lands 

Grants

2

* FS Use of Settlement Funds 2

FSA * 2017 Hurricane Relief Emergency Assistance for Honeybees 2

* 2017 Hurricane Relief Emergency Conservation Program 2

Dairy Margin Coverage Program 2

* FSA Controls Over its Contract Closeout Process 3

* Livestock Indemnity Program 2

* Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program 2

FSIS * Controls Over Imported Meat and Poultry Products 1

* Controls Over Meat, Poultry, and Egg Product Labels 1

FSIS Public Health Communications 1

FSIS Waiver of Regulatory Requirements 1

Implementation of the Public Health Information System Export 

Module

3

MULTI * Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program 2

* FY 2019 FISMA Audit 1

* FY 2020 FISMA Audit 1

FY 2021 FISMA Audit 1

* General and Application Controls Work for USDA’s Financial 

Statement Audits for FYs 2020 and 2019

3

General and Application Controls Work for USDA’s Financial 

Statement Audits For FYs 2021 and 2020

3

* Market Facilitation Program 2

Security Over Select USDA Agencies’ Networks and Systems 

FY 2019

1
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 22 

Agency Title Goal

* USDA’s Consolidated Financial Statements for FYs 2019 and 2018 3

USDA’s Consolidated Financial Statements for FYs 2020 and 2019 3

USDA’s 2020 Compliance With the Geospatial Data Act 3

USDA FY 2019 Compliance With Improper Payment Requirements 3

* USDA Controls to Prevent the Unauthorized Access and Transfer of 

Research Technology

1

NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 2

NRCS * Hurricane Disaster Assistance—Emergency Watershed Protection 

Program 

2

* NRCS’ Financial Statements for FYs 2019 and 2018 3

NRCS’ Financial Statements for FYs 2020 and 2019 3

OASCR OASCR’s Use of Purchase and Travel Cards 3

* USDA Oversight of Civil Rights Complaints 3

USDA Oversight of the EEO Complaint Process 3

OCFO Agreed-upon Procedures: Employee Benefits, Withholdings, 

Contributions, and Supplemental Semiannual Headcount Report

3

Statement of Standards for Attestation Engagements Number 18, 

Report on Controls for Financial Management Services for 

October 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020

3

Statement of Standards for Attestation Engagements Number 18, 

Report on Controls at the National Finance Center for October 1, 

2019, to July 31, 2020

3

* USDA’s FY 2019, First Quarter DATA Act Submission 3

RD Rural Development’s (RD) Contract Over the Comprehensive Loan 

Program System Modernization

3

* Rural Development’s Financial Statements for FYs 2019 and 2018 3

Rural Development’s Financial Statements for FYs 2020 and 2019 3

RHS * Multifamily Housing Tenant Eligibility 2

* Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program Appraisals 2

RMA Approved Insurance Providers Performance Reviews 3

* Controls Over Crop Insurance 508(h) Products 3

* Controls Over Multiple Peril Crop Insurance Policies With Additional 

Coverage for Hail

2
23 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Agency Title Goal

* Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/RMA’s Financial Statements 

for FYs 2019 and 2018

3

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/RMA’s Financial Statements 

for FYs 2020 and 2019

3

RUS Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program 2

RUS Financial Management of Section 313a Guarantees for Bonds 

and Notes

3
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 24 

Agency Title Goal

FNS * Contract for SNAP EBT Card at Farmers Markets and Direct 

Marketing Farmers

3

* Timeliness of the Disbursement of the $600 Million Disaster Nutrition 

Assistance Grant to Puerto Rico

2

FSIS * FSIS Rulemaking Process for the Proposed Rule on the Modernization 

of Swine Slaughter Inspection

3

MULTI USDA Research Integrity and Capacity 3

Implementation of the IT Modernization Centers of Excellence 

Improvements

3

NRCS * NRCS Records Management Phase I Contract 3

RHS Duplication of Housing Programs 3

NOTES ON APPENDICES F.1 AND F.2:

* Denotes work-in-process, which is carried over from an assignment initiated in the 

prior fiscal year.

Goal 1: Strengthen USDA’s ability to protect public health and safety and to secure 

agricultural and Department resources.

Goal 2: Strengthen USDA’s ability to deliver program assistance with integrity and 

effectiveness.

Goal 3: Strengthen USDA’s ability to achieve results-oriented performance.

APPENDIX F.2: FY 2020 INSPECTIONS 

PLANNED AND IN PROGRESS 
25 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

The following table illustrates OIG’s strategic goals, the direct resources to be 

spent on each goal, and the new FY 2020 performance targets. 

Percentage of Direct Resources To Be Spent on Each FY 2020 

Mission Goal Audit Investigations

Strengthen USDA’s ability to protect public health and safety 

and to secure agricultural and Department resources.

21% 10%

Strengthen USDA’s ability to deliver program assistance with 

integrity and effectiveness.

34% 80%

Strengthen USDA’s ability to achieve results-oriented 

performance.

45% 10%

APPENDIX G: OVERVIEW OF OIG PLANS 

FOR FY 2020
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 26 

Performance Measures FY 2020 Target

Organizational Results

(1) Percentage of OIG direct resources dedicated to critical-risk or high-impact 

activities to improve USDA’s safety and security measures, strengthen program 

integrity, or achieve results-oriented performance.

96%

(2) Percentage of audit recommendations that strengthen internal controls and/

or recover program funds where management decisions are achieved within 

1 year.

95%

(3) Percentage of stakeholder-requested and mandated audit products (e.g., 

Congress or Administration) issued by the agreed-upon deadline (including 

verbal commitments).

95%

(4) Percentage of closed investigations that resulted in a referral for action to the 

Department of Justice, State, or local law enforcement officials, or a relevant 

administrative authority.

90%

(5) Percentage of closed investigations that resulted in an indictment, conviction, 

civil suit or settlement, judgment, administrative action, or monetary result.

85%

(6) Meet statutory deadlines (20 working days) on responses to Freedom of 

Information Act appeals.

95%

(7) Internal and external IT security incidence response and proper resolution 

accomplished within 30 days of incident.

95%

Internal Management

(1) On an annual basis, positive employee engagement index reported in staff 

surveys.

70%

(2) Positive evaluation scores on OIG internal training course evaluations. 85%

(3) Visible and interactive communication between Senior Staff and all OIG 

employees occurs bimonthly.

85%

(4) EEO counselors’ internal and external reports will be completed within 

15 calendar days after the counseling period ends.

85%

(5) Internal quality assurance review reports issued in final with management 

response within 60 days.

85%

(6) Internal quality assurance review report recommendations accepted annually. 90%

(7) Inspector General subpoenas issued within 5 working days (of receipt of 

complete information) and judicial challenges result in enforcement.

95%

(8) Percent of ODS clients reporting that the data analysis product contributed 

positively to the OIG mission and goals.

95%

APPENDIX H: FY 2020 PERFORMANCE 

MEASURES
27 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

AMS ......................... Agricultural Marketing Service

APHIS ................ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

ARS .......................... Agricultural Research Service

CACFP ................... Child and Adult Care Food Program

CCC ....................... Commodity Credit Corporation

DCR ................... Office of Diversity and Conflict Resolution

DM .......................... Departmental Management

EBT ............................ electronic benefit transfer

EEO ........................ equal employment opportunity

ERS .......................... Economic Research Service

FAS ........................... Foreign Agricultural Service

FISMA .............. Federal Information Security Modernization Act

FNS ........................... Food and Nutrition Service

FS .................................... Forest Service

FSA .............................. Farm Service Agency

APPENDIX I: ACRONYMS AND 

ABBREVIATIONS
 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020 28 

FSIS ...................... Food Safety and Inspection Service

FY ...................................... fiscal year

IT ............................... information technology

NIFA ................... National Institute of Food and Agriculture

NRCS .................. Natural Resources Conservation Service

OA .................................. Office of Audit

OASCR .............. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

OC ................................. Office of Counsel

OCFO ..................... Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OCI ...................... Office of Compliance and Integrity

ODS ............................. Office of Data Sciences

OIG ........................... Office of Inspector General

OM ............................. Office of Management

RHS .............................. Rural Housing Service

RMA........................... Risk Management Agency
29 ANNUAL PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2020

RUS ............................... Rural Utilities Service

SFSP ......................... Summer Food Service Program

SNAP ................ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

USDA ........................ U.S. Department of Agriculture

WIC ................. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

 Women, Infants, and Children
New Operational Goals Added in the Five-Year 

Strategic Mission and Diversity and Inclusion Plan—

Fiscal Years 2020–2024

OPERATIONAL GOAL 1: ADVANCE A CREATIVE, FORWARD-THINKING 

ORGANIZATION BY LEVERAGING THE STRENGTH OF A HIGH-PERFORMING, 

DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE.

• Continue to provide an environment and framework that empowers 

employees to participate as active owners in their performance and career 

development.

• Continue to assess and employ new methodologies and practices to 

enhance internal communications.

OPERATIONAL GOAL 2: ADVANCE OIG OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY BY 

EMBRACING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND OPTIMIZING ENTERPRISE 

RESOURCES.

• Develop and adopt an enterprise risk profile to include mitigation 

strategies.

• Assess requirements and develop processes necessary to establish the 

groundwork for evidence-based decisionmaking functions that align with 

the principles of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 

2018 and the Federal Data Strategy framework.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its Agencies, offices, 

employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs 

are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, 

sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, 

age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public 

assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights 

activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases 

apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by 

program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for 

program information (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal 

Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made 

available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program 

Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to 

USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To 

request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed 

form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the 

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

All photographs on the front and back covers are from USDA’s Flickr site and are in 

the public domain. They do not depict any particular audit or investigation. 

Learn more about USDA OIG

Visit our website: www.usda.gov/oig

Follow us on Twitter: @OIGUSDA

Report Suspected Wrongdoing in USDA Programs

OIG Hotline: www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.htm

Local / Washington, D.C. (202) 690-1622

Outside D.C. (800) 424-9121

TTY (Call Collect) (202) 690-1202

Bribery / Assault

(202) 720-7257 (24 hours)