FEDweek IT

The Department of Energy’s inspector general has found problems with the management of IT funds in the Energy Information Administration, as well as reporting inconsistencies of IT investments and records mismanagement.

After following up complaints about the IT program, the IG concluded that a Transformation Project in development since April 2011 costing nearly $20 million to date was not implemented with sound project management principles, remains incomplete and has not produced significant results or benefits.

While agencies are required to submit an accounting of IT investments annually to OMB, EIA only reported IT costs of about $27 million for fiscal 2012 – 2014, even though actual expenditures were about $53 million, the IG said.

Had the Transformation Project been reported to OMB it would have been classified as a major IT investment, required greater oversight and formal documentation.

The IG also found cybersecurity weaknesses such as missing software patches and the use of unsupported software (blurred lines of authority have also been an issue in regard to cybersecurity), and it said EIA had not implemented a comprehensive and effective records management program.

Overall the IG faulted EIA for failing to ensure applicable federal and internal department policies and procedures were followed. It also said Energy has not fully implemented cybersecurity controls or an effective governance structure over IT project management and cybersecurity activities.