Pursuit's Take
OIG found that travel card holders did not always obtain cash advances in accordance with Department regulations. Specifically, OIG identified 255 travel card holders who obtained 2,051 cash advances, valued at $847,189, without a travel authorization, which is contrary to Department regulations.
OIG also identified 1,306 travel card transactions that occurred in FY 2014 and FY 2015, valued at approximately $222,348, that were spent at prohibited or questionable merchants, such as physicians and charitable organizations.
Furthermore, OIG identified 96 individuals who still had active travel card accounts after separation, including 16 individuals who completed 247 transactions, valued at approximately $63,886, after they separated from the Department. This occurred, in part, because the Department’s policies need to be updated. Former employees with active travel cards may misuse the travel cards and the Department would have little recourse against them.