Congress has instructed federal agencies to disburse funds to local projects selected by individual members as part of the 2022 fiscal year appropriations.
Members of Congress had the option of asking for a certain amount of federal funds to be designated for local projects. The agencies were told to send this money to the specified recipients even though the agencies frequently have discretion about how they award funds, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report.
“We’re also tracking these funds across government and at 17 other agencies,” the GAO said in its report.
According to the report, the Department of Labor received $137.6 million in 2022 for 173 of these projects. The Department of Labor's distribution schedule and procedures for ensuring the proper use of the monies are examined in the GAO report.
The GAO found the Department of Labor’s projects are intended to aid in the employment and training needs of dislocated workers, other adults and youth, the report said. The designated recipients are mostly higher education and other nonprofit organizations but also Tribal, state or local governments.
