Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
July 21, 2026 | Report No. 26-P-0043
Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to determine whether the EPA is awarding fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water infrastructure earmark grants expeditiously and in accordance with federal and EPA requirements.
Summary of Findings
As of September 2025, approximately 44 percent of the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water earmark funds had not been awarded. According to the EPA, progress is slow due to challenges the Agency faces, such as initially not having an earmark program, significant personnel shortages, and many recipients without federal grant experience. We found that the Agency’s lack of goals for timely awards, central tracking of pre-award documents, and clear guidance for tribal consultations also hindered the timely award of earmarks. As a result, over $1 billion of the $2.3 billion, or 510 of the 1,198 projects, had not been awarded and used to achieve the intended purpose of improving public health and environmental protections.
Report Materials
OIG Independence of EPA
The EPA's Office of Inspector General is a part of the EPA, although Congress provides our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.
Environmental Protection Agency | Office of Inspector General
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