Katrina Contracting
The federal government’s response to the Katrina Hurricane could cost up to $200 billion -- much of it going to contractors doing everything from addressing short term needs like food and shelter to repairing public water works systems. Numerous abuses during the Iraq reconstruction have helped to shed light on weaknesses in the federal government’s contracting systems that lead to waste, fraud and abuse. Many of those same problems are returning in the Katrina relief and rebuilding effort – no-bid contracts, outrageously high charges, questionable expenses. The result is that people who need help do not get it. Working with government experts, the Project On Government Oversight has conducted investigations into contracting abuses for more than 20 years. We hope this resource page is useful and informational. Please send us your suggestions and ideas for how we can improve it.

Alerts and Info from the Project On Government Oversight
POGO's Katrina Contracting Concerns and Recommendations
Troubled Contracting Vehicles
Government Purchase Cards
No-Bid Contracts
Revolving Door
Contractor Misconduct
Inherently Governmental Functions
Transparency
Emergency Procurement Authorities
Alerts on Katrina

Katrina Spending
Examples of Waste or Fraud in Katrina Spending
Contracts Awarded
List compiled by POGO
List compiled by the General Services Administration
List compiled by Army Corps of Engineers of prime post-Katrina contractors
List compiled by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Dept. of the Navy Cruise Ships audit report. February 16, 2006.
Department of Commerce - Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC)
Senate Budget Committee releases current tally of Hurricane-Related spending, including supplemental appropriations, tax relief, and education allocations. November 18, 2005.
CRS - Hurricane-damaged drinking water and wastewater facilities: Impacts, needs, and response. December 15, 2006.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, "Emergency Response To Hurricane Katrina: Use Of The Government Purchase Card," May 2007.

Government Oversight of Katrina Spending
Congressional Oversight of Katrina Spending

Government Agencies Conducting Oversight
Department of Health & Human Services creates an Office of Inspector General
on Hurricane Relief work
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General
Federal Agents Seek Out Disaster Fraud. October 31, 2005.
DHS IG recommends improvements in national emergency systems. March 8, 2006.
FEMA's Award of 36 Trailer Maintenance and Deactivation Contracts, OIG-07-36, March 2007.
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General: Sales of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Travel Trailers and Mobile Homes, OIG-07-41, May 2, 2007.
All DHS Insector General Report Links.
Blackwater contract should be competed to find opportunties to "reduce costs." March 2, 2006.
Department of Justice Katrina Fraud Task Force
"First Year Report to the Attorney General," September 2006.
Inspectors General (IGnet) providing Katrina Oversight
Special IG for Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery finds excessive hotel lodging prices. February 13, 2006.
Transportation Dept. overpays contractor by $32 million and agreed to price quotes without documentation. January 20, 2006.
National Science Foundation releases report on levee failures. May 22, 2006.
Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General, The Commissioned Corps’ Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. February 2007.
Government Accountability Office (click here for a complete listing)

White House Oversight of Katrina Spending
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency -- 90-Day Progress Report to Congress. December 30, 2005.
PCIE's and ECIE's Annual Performance Plan of Disaster Related Activity, FY 2007. June 16, 2007.
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency biweekly report on hurricane oversight, including statistics on agency audits, investigations, arrests, indictments, and convictions. March 31, 2007.
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency - Oversight of Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery, A Semiannual Report to Congress. April 30, 2006.
White House finds U.S. unprepared for natural disasters and calls for fixes. February 2006.

Legistlative Proposals to Improve Oversight of Katrina Spending

News Articles of Interest
Other Resources and Links

POGO Letter to Senator Collins (R-ME), Chair, Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, detailing government contracting concerns and recommendations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. September 16, 2005. read this letter »