Samantha Feinstein
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Samantha Feinstein
@samanthafeinstein.bsky.social
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International Program Director and Staff Attorney at Government Accountability Project, the leading whistleblower protection organization. Views expressed are my own.
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Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
March 6, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Reposted by Samantha Feinstein
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organization issues a subaward. While USAID OIG has previously identified gaps in the scope of partner vetting, 1º USAID staff have reported that the counter-terrorism vetting unit supporting humanitarian assistance programming has in recent days been told not to report to work (because staff have been furloughed or placed on administrative leave) and thus cannot conduct any partner vetting. This gap leaves USAID susceptible to inadvertently funding entities or salaries of individuals associated with U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. Third-Party Monitors Third-party monitoring" (TPM) is a mechanism USAID utilizes for oversight of humanitarian assistance programs, particularly in dangerous locations where its staff cannot safely travel. Site visits conducted by USAID-contracted TPMs help USAID verify if the delivery of physical goods align with self-reporting by aid organizations. TPM field monitors conduct simple, standardized surveys and interviews with recipients to check if USAID programming was delivered as intended. The January 24 pause on foreign assistance programming suspended all TPM contracts and activities, including in high-risk environments such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Haiti, Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Syria, and Venezuela, impacting another layer of oversight over U.S. taxpayer-provided aid. Staff Reductions Have Constrained USAID's Ability to Receive and Respond to Allegations of Misconduct Involving Humanitarian Assistance Programming The Secretary of State granted waivers for emergency food assistance and lifesaving humanitarian assistance. However, uncertainties about the scope of the waivers, the degree of permissible communication between USAID staff and aid organizations, the sudden dismissal of contract staff, and the placement of staff on paid administrative leave has limited BHA's ability to receive and respond to allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or diversion of humanitarian aid. As noted in our july 2024 advisory, USA… with aid organizations stemming from the cessation of U.S. foreign assistance have limited USAID's ability to receive, react to, and report allegations of diversion, all of which impacts the Agency's mandatory reporting obligations to Congress." Additionally, according to BHA staff, the placement of most of its staff on administrative leave is preventing the bureau from responding to USAID OlG audit requests, reports of investigative findings, and other routine OIG oversight inquiries. Conclusion USAID OIG's independent oversight of USAID's humanitarian assistance programs over the years has identified significant challenges and offered recommendations to improve Agency programming to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Our longstanding concerns about existing USAID oversight mechanisms persist. However, recent widespread staffing reductions across the Agency, particularly within BHA, coupled with uncertainty about the scope of foreign assistance waivers and permissible communications with implementers, has degraded USAID's ability to distribute and safeguard taxpayer-funded humanitarian assistance. For more information on USAID OIG's work or to report allegations of fraud, waste, corruption, and abuse, please visit our website at oig.usaid.gov. On the cover: USAID pallets with emergency food bars for Syrian refugees. Courtesy World Food Programme, 2013. 12Section 7015(i). P.L. 118-47, Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024: "The Secretary of State and USAID Administrator, as applicable, shall promptly inform the appropriate congressional committees of each instance in which funds appropriated by this Act for assistance have been diverted or destroyed, to include the type and amount of assistance, a description of the incident and parties involved, and an explanation of the response
February 10, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Samantha Feinstein
ayoub.bsky.social
54,000 photos smuggled by him and allies of corpses of Assad’s victims. https://www.newarab.com/news/assad-regime-torture-whistleblower-caesar-named-farid-madhhan
Assad regime torture whistleblower Caesar named as Farid Madhhan
The Syrian whistleblower known as Caesar responsible for documenting the horrors of torture and mass death under the Assad regime has revealed his identity.
www.newarab.com
February 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Samantha Feinstein
repdwightevans.bsky.social
Federal workers, contractors & others who may have relevant information on waste, fraud or abuse involving taxpayer dollars can use this whistleblower tip line created by the House Committee on Oversight: oversightdemocrats.house.gov/contact/tip-...
Report Waste, Fraud, or Abuse
Whistleblowers play a vital role in helping Congress conduct its constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities.  For this reason, Ranking Member Connolly is interested in information regarding ...
oversightdemocrats.house.gov
February 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM