Inadequate supervision by state officials resulted in the mismanagement of more than $29 million in federal funds in Oklahoma.
Millions of mismanaged federal pandemic relief funds in Oklahoma (Photo Source: Look Photos).
Misspent Covid Funds in Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma has been implicated in gross mismanagement of federal pandemic relief aid, with millions of dollars not reaching those in need but instead being directed to individuals who did not require assistance.
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd said in a report on Tuesday, that if the federal government decides to reclaim the misallocated or misspent funds, Oklahoma taxpayers may be held accountable for repaying millions of dollars, according to Journal Record.
Byrd emphasized that mandatory audits of the state’s utilization of federal funds uncovered not only significant errors, such as disregarding excessive program management fees but also the state’s failure to address and rectify such mismanagement despite prior warnings from federal authorities.
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The audit focused on approximately $1.1 billion in federal funds provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES) to address the pandemic’s impact. Within these funds, more than $12.2 million in expenses were questioned due to their misalignment with the grant’s objectives, according to ABC News.
The report’s findings indicate a significant failure in managing federal pandemic relief aid in Oklahoma, which has not only hindered assistance to those most in need but also exposed taxpayers to potential financial liabilities.
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