The Government Accountability Office has recommended the U.S. Agency for International Development to reverse reimbursements that were not made in accordance with the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015.
According to a report published Wednesday USAID made 271 reimbursements prior to the passing of the Act, and 21 of those worth approximately $60 million did not comply with the Act. The 21 reimbursements account for 15 percent of the $401 million funds obligated by the USAID.
GAO found out that USAID did not possess legal authority to commence the 21 reimbursements which were not in accordance with the Act and the agency has not established written policies or procedures to make and document reimbursements.
The auditor also discovered that of the $2.5 billion appropriated for Ebola activity by the State Department and USAID that an estimated $1.47 billion had been obligated with $875 million distributed to control the outbreak as well as fund medical evacuations and other activities in West Africa.
Additionally USAID also obligated $251 million to support health services restoration and another $183 million for various activities that involve disease surveillance development while the State Department also appropriated $5 million for biosecurity activities.
