FEMA Needs to Improve Guidance and Oversight for the Presidential Residence Protection Assistance Grant

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not ensure state and local law enforcement agencies expended FEMA’s Presidential Residence Protection Assistance (PRPA) grant funds in accordance with Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Specifically, FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) reimbursed the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for unallowable overtime fringe benefits.

This occurred, in part, because GPD did not evaluate NYPD’s increase in fringe benefit rates, request justification for the rate change, or establish comprehensive guidance for the PRPA grant. Additionally, GPD did not provide effective oversight to manage the PRPA grant during its application review and verification process by assigning limited, inexperienced staff whose work received minimal supervisory review.