Department of the Treasury

Special Inspector General for 

Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR)

Congressional Budget

Justification and Annual 

Performance Plan and Report

FY 2024
SIGPR - 2

Contents

Section I – Budget Request........................................................................................................... 3

A – Mission Statement................................................................................................................ 3

B – Summary of the Request ...................................................................................................... 3

D – Budget Increases and Decreases Description....................................................................... 4

E – Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes....................................................... 5

F - Legislative Proposals............................................................................................................. 5

Section II – Annual Performance Plan and Report................................................................... 6

A – Strategic Alignment ............................................................................................................. 6

B – Budget and Performance by Budget Activity ...................................................................... 7

Audit Budget and Performance................................................................................................... 7

C - Audit Performance Measures................................................................................................ 9

D - Investigations Budget and Performance ............................................................................. 10

Section III – Additional Information ........................................................................................ 12

A – Summary of Capital Investments....................................................................................... 12
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Section I – Budget Request

A – Mission Statement

To ensure that the American taxpayer gets the best return on investment by promoting the 

economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 

Security (CARES) Act1 funds and programs. 

B – Summary of the Request

The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) received an initial appropriation 

of $25 million derived from amounts made available under Section 4027 of the CARES Act in 

March 2020. The Budget proposes appropriations language to provide SIGPR $16 million in 

appropriated funds. SIGPR maintains $25 million is necessary to achieve optimal staffing and 

operational levels if Congress grants SIGPR an extension beyond 2025 and increases its

jurisdiction. 

SIGPR, an independent office within the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), was established 

by section 4018 of the CARES Act in March 2020. Mr. Brian Miller was confirmed by the U.S. 

Senate in June 2020 as the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. SIGPR continues to 

lead the way by providing oversight of Treasury activities under the CARES Act by conducting 

independent audits and investigations necessary to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in 

programs and operations. SIGPR’s jurisdiction currently includes two significant programs, the 

Direct Loan Program (loans to air carriers and national security businesses consisting of 35 loans, 

35 borrowers for $2.7B), and the Main Street Lending Program (loans to small and medium-sized 

for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations consisting of 319 lenders, 1,830 loans for 

$17.5B). SIGPR conducts audits of these Treasury programs, investigates fraud by recipients of 

CARES Act funds, and makes recommendations designed to improve the administration of 

pandemic recovery programs. SIGPR also conducts criminal investigations into allegations of 

waste, fraud, and abuse. 

The Budget proposes appropriations language to provide SIGPR $16 million in appropriated 

funds, which will allow SIGPR to continue operating at its current FTE level.

1.1 Appropriations Detail Table

Dollars in Thousands

 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2023 to FY 2024

Appropriated Resources Operating Plan Operating Plan Request % Change

New Appropriated Resources FTE AMOUNT FTE AMOUNT FTE AMOUNT FTE AMOUNT

Audit & Investigations 24 $8,000 39 $12,000 47 $16,000 20.5% 33.3%

Subtotal New Appropriated Resources 24 $8,000 39 $12,000 47 $16,000 20.5% 33.3%

Other Resources

Unobligated Balances from Prior Years 29 $12,000 16 $5,000 8 $1,000 -50.0% -60.0%

Reimbursable 0 $10 0 $100 0 $100 NA 0.0%

Subtotal Other Resources 29 $12,010 16 $5,100 8 $1,100 -50.0% -58.8%

Total Budgetary Resources 53 20,010 55 $17,100 55 $17,100 0.0% 5.8%

1 Pub. L. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (2020).
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1.2 Budget Adjustments

Dollars in Thousands

FTE Amount

FY 2023 Operating Plan 39 $12,000 

Changes to Base:

Maintaining Current Levels (MCLs): 0 $529 

Pay Annualization (2023 4.6% average pay raise) $107 

Pay Raise (2024 5.2% average pay raise) $368 

Non-Pay $54 

Subtotal Changes to Base 0 $529 

FY 2024 Current Services 39 $12,529 

Program Changes:

Program Increases:

Audit & Investigations 16 $3,471 

Subtotal Program Changes 16 $3,471 

FY 2024 President's Budget Request 55 $16,000 

D – Budget Increases and Decreases Description

Maintaining Current Levels (MCLs) .......................................................... +$529,000 / +0 FTE 

Pay Annualization (4.6%) +$107,000 / +0 FTE

Funds are requested for annualization of the January 2023 4.6% average pay raise.

Pay Raise (5.2%) +$368,000 / +0 FTE

Funds are requested for a 5.2% average pay raise in January 2024. 

Non-Pay +$54,000 / +0 FTE 

Funds are requested for non-labor expenses such as travel, contracts, rent, supplies and equipment. 

Program Increases ................................................................+$3,471,000 / +16 FTE

Audits and Investigations +$3,471,000 / +16 FTE

Funding is requested for increased audits and investigations staffing to administer the expected 

significant increase in active case load and the expected DOJ prosecutorial team support 

requirements in FY 2024. 
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1.3 Object Classification (Schedule O) Obligations

Dollars in Thousands

FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024

Object Classification

Actual

Obligations

Estimated

Obligations

Estimated

Obligations

11.1 - Full-time permanent 11,000 8,000 8,000

11.9 - Personnel Compensation (Total) 11,000 8,000 8,000

12.0 - Personnel benefits 4,000 3,000 3,000

Total Personnel and Compensation Benefits $15,000 $11,000 $11,000

23.1 - Rental payments to GSA 1,000 1,000 1,000 

25.3 - Other goods and services from Federal sources 4,010 4,100 4,100

Total Non-Personnel $5,010 $5,100 $5,100

Total Obligations $20,100 $17,100 $17,100 

Full-time Equivalents (FTE) 39 55 55

Amounts reflect obligations of annually appropriated resources, carryover balances, and reimbursables. 

E – Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes

Appropriations Language Explanation of Changes

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL 

FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY

Federal Funds 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Sec. [126]125 In addition to amounts otherwise available, there 

is appropriated to the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 

Recovery, [$12,000,000] $16,000,000, to remain available until 

expended, for necessary expenses in carrying out section 4018 of 

the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public 

Law 116-136). (Department of the Treasury Appropriations Act, 

2023.)

F - Legislative Proposals

SIGPR has no legislative proposals. 
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Section II – Annual Performance Plan and Report

A – Strategic Alignment

SIGPR, an independent office within the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), was established 

by section 4018 of the CARES Act in 2020. It provides oversight of Treasury activities under the 

CARES Act by conducting independent audits, investigations, and inspections and evaluations 

necessary to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in programs and 

operations. SIGPR conducts audits of these Treasury programs, investigates fraud by recipients of 

CARES Act funds, and makes recommendations designed to improve the administration of 

section 4018 of the CARES Act. SIGPR also conducts criminal investigations into allegations of 

waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. 

SIGPR’s budget activities and performance measures align to the new objectives in the Treasury 

FY 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan. This work will include benchmarking performance and may result 

in changes to performance measures in the future.

Priority 1: Highly Impactful Work 

SIGPR offices of audit and investigations deliver timely, relevant, and highly impactful results.

SIGPR’s objectives are to identify risk and weaknesses in program areas within SIGPR’s 

jurisdiction and recommend solutions that help mitigate fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. 

In doing so, SIGPR employs risk-based approaches to prioritize and target audits and 

investigations in areas that provide the greatest impact and address the highest risks. 

SIGPR achieves these objectives through several strategies. SIGPR provides timely information, 

conclusions, and recommendations to SIGPR stakeholders for appropriate action and resolution. 

The Offices of Audit and Investigations design and implement a comprehensive process that 

identifies, prioritizes, and assesses risks. Both offices develop and implement a process for 

proactive efforts that focus on high dollar loans or high impact projects. SIGPR leverages data 

analytics to identify meaningful indicators of fraud or misuse of CARES Act funds. Finally, 

SIGPR allocates resources to projects that address the highest risk and most vulnerable areas. 

Priority 2: Integrity in Oversight Work

SIGPR Offices of Audits and Investigations delivers accurate, professional, independent, and 

actionable work products. 

SIGPR’s objective is to employ work processes that drive the timely completion of accurate, 

relevant, and impactful projects that adhere to professional standards. 

To do so, SIGPR develops policies, processes, and procedures to ensure that SIGPR work 

complies with the quality standards used in the federal inspector general community. The Offices 

of Audit and Investigations ensure that projects and work products comply with professional 

standards, including, but not limited to the Government Auditing Standards and Quality Standards 

for Investigations. Finally, SIGPR participates in the CIGIE audit and investigation external peer 

review process.
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Priority 3: Inclusiveness and Innovation

SIGPR promotes a diverse and inclusive culture that is innovative, high performing, and 

engaged.

SIGPR’s objectives are to recruit and retain diverse, high-performing talent; to use innovative 

techniques and approaches that improve efficiency and effectiveness; and to promote transparent 

and timely communications and inclusiveness.

SIGPR employs several strategies to do so. SIGPR develops a recruitment strategy that targets 

the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the mission critical needs of the organization and 

provides opportunities for continuous development and professional growth to meet current and 

future needs of the organization. SIGPR provides a work environment that promotes a positive 

work-life balance. SIGPR provides data analytic capabilities to support projects. SIGPR also 

collaborates with other agencies to leverage best practices, tools, data, and technologies.

Priority 4: Effective Collaboration and Outreach

SIGPR will works with oversight partners and others to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and 

transparency in SIGPR’s work.

SIGPR’s objective is to leverage strategic communications to expand outreach to and 

collaboration with SIGPR’s stakeholders and partners, as well as to communicate SIGPR’s 

findings to Executive Branch leaders, Congress, and the public.

To do so, SIGPR builds strong relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders 

to identify emerging trends of fraud, waste, and abuse and share best practices. SIGPR develops a 

communications plan for outreach and collaboration and reports on SIGPR findings and activities. 

B – Budget and Performance by Budget Activity

Audit Budget and Performance

$8,000,000 - SIGPR’s Office of Audit (OA) conducts audits, reviews, and evaluations of loans, 

loan guarantees, and other investments made by Treasury under programs established under the

CARES Act as well as Treasury’s management of programs established under the CARES Act.

The Office of Audits takes an analytic approach to auditing CARES Act programs and has

populated databases with CARES Act funding recipient information. The office is calculating 

individual risk scores to pinpoint where auditing resources can be best applied. The office also 

refers instances of suspected abuse to other SIGPR offices and outside entities.

Audit Operations

The most recent highlights from 2022 4th Quarter (October – December 2022) include:

• The Office of Audits issued its FY 2023 audit plan on October 17, 2022

• Completed independent reviews of three Direct Loan Validation Memoranda:

o Ovation Travel Group – Identified several material deficiencies in the Validation 

Memorandum.

o Caribbean Sun Airlines & Timco Engine Center – Identified minor discrepancies in the 

Validation Memoranda.
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The results of these attestation reviews (Ovation Travel Group, Caribbean Sun Airlines and 

Timco Engine Center) will be summarized in a separate document covering all the attestation 

reviews and will also be included with the overall audit of the Direct Loan Program.

The Office of Audits also has efforts underway to review loan loss information related to the 

Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). As of February 10, 2023, the MSLP has recognized 

approximately $95 million in actual loan losses, net of subsequent recoveries. After efforts to 

obtain MSLP loan loss information through Treasury and from the Federal Reserve were

unsuccessful, SIGPR issued subpoenas to the top 11 MSLP participating lender banks. The top 11 

lenders represent 707 of the 1,830 MSLP loans, valued at just over $5 billion of the $17.5 billion 

in loans issued. The subpoenas request information from the banks on MSLP loans with defaults, 

impairments, late interest payments, delinquent financial reporting, and borrowers who made 

material misrepresentations in their MSLP applications. The Office of Audits will review 

information received from the banks and determine how to incorporate the information into 

potential audits. SIGPR plans to send subpoenas to additional banks in the near future. 

Significant progress has been made on the following four ongoing audits:

• Audit of Treasury’s Process for Approving its $700 million Direct Loan to YRC Worldwide, 

Inc.

• Audit of Treasury’s Monitoring of the Direct Loan Program

• Audit of $195 million Direct Loan Program Borrower

• Audit of Treasury’s Use of Outside Entities

Audit Data Analytics Platform

The Office of Audits data analytics program plays a very important and integral role in SIGPR’s 

mission and cumulative success. The data analytics platform uses specialized software and 

various tools that process and analyze large quantities of data to identify hidden patterns, find 

unseen trends, discover correlations, and derive valuable insights to detect potential red flags that 

provide valuable insight into conducting audits as well as investigations. Since inception, the 

program has collected, cleaned, validated, and analyzed a data library containing over 150 million 

rows of CARES Act funding information, drawn from both public and sensitive government 

sources. The program continues to provide valuable information for all initiatives throughout 

SIGPR.

The data analytics program enables the sharing of analytic methodologies and processes with 

various external government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, 

Department of Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General, 

PRAC, Department of Health and Human Services, Amtrak, National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration, Department of Education Office of Inspector General, Small Business 

Administration Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration Office of Inspector 

General, and others to promote their efforts at uncovering fraud.

Partnership with the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General

As part of SIGPR’s ongoing review of Treasury’s administration of the Direct Loan Program 

created under the CARES Act, SIGPR partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of 

Inspector General to determine whether DoD officials adequately supported decisions when 

verifying and certifying businesses as critical to maintaining national security for loans under 
SIGPR - 9 

section 4003 of the CARES Act. Businesses could be considered for national security loans if 

they met certain criteria including, but not limited to, receiving a recommendation and 

certification from the Secretary of Defense or the Director of National Intelligence. Six of the 11 

NSLP loans Treasury awarded went to businesses that received the certification from DoD. 

DoD Office of Inspector General issued its report on September 20, 2022.2

 The report contained 

one finding with two accompanying recommendations. The finding stated that DoD officials did 

not adequately support their verifications that businesses held DX-priority contracts or top-secret 

facility clearances.3 Additionally, DoD officials did not adequately support their 

recommendations to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense to certify businesses as 

critical to maintaining national security for loans under Section 4003 of the CARES Act. 

DoD management responded to both recommendations with corrective actions, which were 

accepted by DoD Office of Inspector General. The corrective actions were completed by DoD on 

or before August 12, 2022. 

C - Audit Performance Measures

Description of Performance

• Percentage of Audit Products Delivered to Stakeholders by the Due Date – SIGPR’s products 

will have a more significant impact if they are delivered when needed to support 

congressional and Treasury decision making. The target is for 66 percent in both FY 2023 and 

FY 2024. 

To determine whether products are timely, SIGPR will track the percentage of audit products 

that are delivered on or before the established completion date. SIGPR has established a 

yearly completion target of 66.6 percent for the timely issuance of its audit products. 

However, if SIGPR experiences significant delays in access to data and personnel from 

Treasury, SIGPR will make necessary revisions to its estimated completion dates.

• Percentage of Audit Products Subjected to Implementation Reviews - The SIGPR Office of 

Audits has established a process to review and verify the implementation actions taken by 

Treasury on SIGPR recommendations. This measure assesses SIGPR’s effect on improving 

Treasury’s accountability, operations, and services. SIGPR has a target of 50 percent for both 

FY 2023 and FY 2024. 

As part of the audit process, Treasury provides a written response and action plan to address 

SIGPR audit recommendations. Audit resolution is achieved when SIGPR accepts Treasury’s 

time phased plan of action to implement each recommendation. To determine when a 

recommendation is implemented, SIGPR uses the Department of the Treasury’s Joint Audit 

Management Enterprise System (JAMES) to track the implementation status of audit 

recommendations. In addition, the Office of Audits will perform selective reviews of prior audit 

reports to verify whether appropriate corrective action as stated in the proposed action plan has 

been taken by management. SIGPR has established a target of conducting implementation 

2 Audit of the DoD Certification Process for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Section 4003 Loans 

Provided to Business Designated as Critical to Maintaining National Security (DODIG-2022-131, September 20, 

2022)

3 DX-priority contracts provide support to certain national defense and energy programs.
SIGPR - 10

reviews on 50 percent of all audit products listed as implemented in JAMES during the preceding 

fiscal year. 

For FY 2023 and 2024, the target for Percentage of Audit Products Delivered When Promised to 

Stakeholders will remain at 66.6 percent. The target for conducting Implementation Reviews will 

also remain at 50 percent. SIGPR believes that these targets are best attained through effective 

monitoring of ongoing audit work and essential communication with Treasury regarding findings 

and the most appropriate recommendations for corrective action. Consequently, SIGPR’s Office 

of Audits will continue to accentuate the importance of these processes with Treasury leadership.

D - Investigations Budget and Performance

$8,000,000 - SIGPR’s Office of Investigations (OI) conducts criminal and civil investigations 

related to allegations of fraud, abuse, or misconduct involving CARES Act funds and programs 

within SIGPR’s jurisdiction. In addition, OI manages SIGPR’s hotline, which serves as a primary 

avenue for reporting fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct. The office reviews and assesses 

complaints, develops proactive efforts in concert with SIGPR’s other components, and pursues 

investigations potentially involving millions of dollars in CARES Act-related funding. 

OI continues coalition building and leveraging professional relationships with its colleagues 

across the Inspector General community, as well as working collaboratively with other Offices of 

Inspectors General, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, 

the Department of Justice (DOJ) COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, Financial Crimes 

Enforcement Network, and other law enforcement agencies to uncover large-scale and farreaching fraud, waste, and abuse of CARES program funds.

The most recent highlights include:

• Notable case trendline growth by steadily increasing quantity of investigative case load to a 

total of 37 open cases, in addition to 16 closed cases, and 31 preliminary inquiries converted 

to full investigations.

• SIGPR investigations involve 86 percent of other CARES Act program funds.

• SIGPR’s proactive initiatives accounted for initiating more than 93 percent of its active Main 

Street Lending Program/Direct Loan investigative casework to date.

• The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) extended its authority to 

investigate pandemic-related fraud to SIGPR through a Memorandum of Understanding, 

resulting in five SIGPR special agents assigned to the PRAC Fraud Task Force on a parttime basis.

After staffing OI with criminal investigators (special agents):

• In December 2021, SIGPR obtained its first indictment, involving false statements to 

fraudulently obtain more than $1.6M in federal funds for business loans intended to relieve 

financial distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SIGPR - 11 

• In early January 2022, a SIGPR-initiated investigation resulted in a guilty plea related to a 

loan obtained through the Main Street Lending Program, a lending facility established by 

the Federal Reserve Board and supported with Treasury’s investment in CARES Act funds. 

As part of the plea, it was agreed to include court-ordered restitution in the amount of 

$252,143. 

• In late March 2022, another SIGPR-initiated investigation resulted in the arrest of an 

individual related to fraudulently obtaining a loan through the Main Street Lending Program 

and SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds. In April 2022, the individual was 

indicted. In August 2022, the individual plead guilty. 

In February 2023, the individual was sentenced to 78 months incarceration, three 

years supervised release, and ordered to pay over $2.6 million in restitution. 

 

• SIGPR conducted various outreach efforts to include participating in the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation’s Bank Fraud Conference, training Civil and Criminal Assistant U.S. 

Attorneys on CARES Act programs, and coordinating with the Department of Justice Fraud 

Sections (Civil and Criminal), as well as U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country to 

deconflict and develop leads.
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Description of Performance

SIGPR is continuing to develop/refine performance measures for the Investigations programs. 

Below is SIGPR’s ‘Behind the Badge’ Investigative Fact Sheet with potential key metrics:

 

 

Section III – Additional Information

A – Summary of Capital Investments 

SIGPR has no capital investments. Capital investments that support SIGPR are included in the 

Departmental Offices plan.

A summary of capital investment resources, including major information technology and nontechnology investments can be found at: 

https://www.treasury.gov/about/budget-performance/Pages/summary-of-capital-investments.aspx

Hotline Complaints

Hotline Complaints Received 2,144

Referrals to Other Agencies 729

Investigations

Ongoing* 34

Closed** 12

Preliminary Inquiries Converted to Full Investigations 30

Criminal Actions †

Referrals to the Department of Justice 19

Indictments/Informations 3

Criminal Complaints 1

Arrests/Summons 3

Convictions/Pleas 2

Civil Actions

Referrals to the Department of Justice*** 3

Other Enforcement Actions

IG Subpoenas Issued 35

Investigative Monetary Results

Funds Seized $808,813

* Includes all SIGPR program-related cases, including PRAC Fraud Task Force investigations 

and joint investigations with other agencies.

† Actions reported include those resulting from PRAC Fraud Task Force investigations and joint investigations 

with other agencies.

** Includes cases initially closed and subsequently re-opened.

*** Note: Same case may have been referred to DOJ both criminally and civilly.