Report: Audit of the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Set-Aside Grants to Tribes

Report # 25-P-0036, June 16, 2025
Why We Did This Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General conducted this audit to determine the extent to which the EPA prioritizes and awards Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to tribes through the Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants—Tribal Set-Aside Program, in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, and EPA guidance.
 

Summary of Findings

The EPA’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, funds for the Clean Water Indian Set-Aside, or CWISA, Program and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants—Tribal Set-Aside, or DWIG-TSA, Program, collectively referred to as the tribal set-aside programs, were not awarded in a timely manner. About $86.3 million, or roughly 57 percent, of the $152.1 million allocated in fiscal year 2022 IIJA tribal set-aside funds were not awarded to tribes in a timely manner. At the time of our data collection, about $125.3 million, or roughly 76 percent, of the $164.1 million allocated in FY 2023 IIJA tribal set-aside funds had not been awarded to tribes.

As of December 2023, about $140.6 million, or roughly 93 percent, of $152.0 million of the FYs 2022 and 2023 DWIG-TSA funds allocated for emerging contaminants and lead service line replacements had not been awarded to tribal projects.

Report Materials

• At a Glance - 25-P-0036 (pdf) (1.37 KB)
• Full Report - 25-P-0036 (pdf) (1.37 KB)
• Agency's Response to Report (pdf) (1.41 MB)

• IG Response to Planned Corrective Action Memo (pdf) (240.71 KB)