DHS watchdog to blame data management for rocky PPE distribution: report

A forthcoming report from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) watchdog is expected to blame data management for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rocky distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) early in the coronavirus pandemic.

The report is expected from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, who was appointed by former President Trump, according to a draft obtained by NBC News.

In the report, Cuffari says the “magnitude” of the pandemic “exposed weaknesses in FEMA’s resource request system and allocation processes.”

“Specifically, WebEOC — the system FEMA used to process PPE and ventilator resource requests — contained unreliable data to inform allocation decisions and ensure requests were accurately adjudicated,” he wrote, according to NBC. “In addition, although FEMA developed a process to allocate the limited supply of ventilators, it did not have a similar process for PPE.”

According to NBC, the report recommends that the agency develop “internal controls for WebEOC to prevent incomplete, inaccurate, and duplicate information from being entered into the system” and better train users.

It further advises that FEMA should document how decisions are made for allocating “critical lifesaving supplies and equipment.”

The report further says FEMA should better define its role, and that of the Department of Health and Human Services, when both have to respond to a pandemic.

A DHS OIG spokesperson told The Hill in a statement the agency “does not comment on our on-going work.” 

“For two years, IG Cuffari has proudly led DHS OIG’s dedicated, career professionals who work hard to provide objective and robust oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components, including FEMA.  DHS OIG’s work demonstrates his commitment to independent and nonpartisan oversight of DHS programs and operations. COVID-19 was, and is, a significant risk for DHS and the public, and we have numerous investigations, inspections, evaluations, and audits that appropriately address those risks across DHS,” the statement said. 

NBC noted that officials with the White House coronavirus task force were charged with acquiring and distributing PPE, and often officials circumvented FEMA’s decision-making to award contracts for PPE and other equipment to preferred states and companies.

While the report doesn’t address political factors, it does mention troubles FEMA had in explaining decisions made by political appointees working in a “Unified Coordination Group,” which could overturn the agency’s recommendations.

The report also notes that states and private entities asking FEMA for help were left in the dark about decision making, and that the agency was unable to accurately track requests. 

The report covered by NBC did not include FEMA’s responses to the findings.

The Hill has reached out to FEMA for comment. 

Updated 8:40 p.m.