Clean School Bus Program Oversight
Clean School Bus Program recipients’ use of funds awarded by the EPA may be subject to review by the EPA Office of Inspector General consistent with its mission to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse related to, and promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in, the administration of EPA programs and operations.
18 U.S.C. § 1001 provides that knowingly making materially false statements or falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony, which may result in fines or up to five years imprisonment.
Ongoing Audits and Evaluations
- Audit of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program Rebate Recipient’s Use of Funds (Project No. OA-FY23-0098, September 12, 2023)
Published Reports and Hearings
- The EPA Needs to Improve Internal Controls for Selecting Recipients of Clean School Bus Program Funds (July 31, 2024)
- The EPA Clean School Bus Program Could Be Impacted by Utility Delays (December 27, 2023)
- Management Implication Report: Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Within the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program (December 27, 2023)
- House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing with EPA Inspector General (September 2023)
EPA Responses to OIG Reports
- The EPA has received the Office of Inspector General’s final report, Management Implication Report: Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Within the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program which was issued on December 27, 2023. The OIG suggested areas of concern regarding the verification protocols for applications within the Clean School Bus rebate and grant application process. The EPA has provided a written response: EPA Clean School Bus OIG Response Memo (pdf)
- The EPA has received the Office of Inspector General’s final report, The EPA Needs to Improve Internal Controls for Selecting Recipients of Clean School Bus Program Funds (July 31, 2024). The OIG evaluation team focused on the Clean School Bus Program’s plans, methods, policies, and procedures that ensure Clean School Bus eligibility requirements are met. Contained in Appendix D of the OIG final report is the EPA’s overall position, along with its position with respect to of the report’s recommendations. We appreciate the OIG's efforts to help improve the EPA Clean School Bus Program and will work with the OIG to address report recommendations. The EPA is committed to oversight and accountability and to ensuring that these funds are delivering clean air and climate benefits to communities.