Veterans Cemetery Grants Program Did Not Always Award Grants to Cemeteries Correctly and Hold States to Standards

Report Information

Issue Date
Closure Date
Report Number
20-00176-125
VA Office
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
11
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
Through the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) offers grants to states, US territories, and tribes to help provide final resting places for eligible veterans and family members where VA’s national cemeteries cannot meet burial needs. Grants may be used to establish, expand, or improve veterans cemeteries. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited the program to assess NCA’s governance and oversight. The audit team also assessed whether critical noncompliance issues at two cemeteries in Hawaii were addressed. The OIG found grants program staff did not rank and award some cemetery grants as regulations required. After grants were awarded, program staff generally ensured cemeteries used grants for their intended purpose. However, NCA did not ensure cemeteries with grants met all national shrine standards for installation of permanent markers, maintenance, and safety. The audit team observed noncompliance issues at eight state cemeteries, including critical issues at the Hilo and Makawao cemeteries in Hawaii. As a result, NCA lacks assurance that veterans and family members buried in state veterans cemeteries have been appropriately honored with timely and accurate grave markings, burial locations, and maintenance. The OIG made 11 recommendations to the under secretary for memorial affairs to ensure state cemetery grants are prioritized and awarded in accordance with federal regulations. The OIG also recommended NCA continue to seek an increase in cemetery grant funding. NCA should also evaluate current headstone and niche cover contracts for timeliness and quality issues, require cemeteries to submit annual performance assessments, and provide remote training options for cemetery employees. The OIG also recommended NCA work with Hawaii’s government to correct longstanding problems at its eight state veterans cemeteries.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/4/2021
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs develop controls to ensure state grants are prioritized and awarded in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/4/2021
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs develop and implement written policies and procedures for grant prioritization.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/15/2022
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs evaluate all current national headstone and niche cover contracts for appropriate penalties and clauses for timeliness and quality issues and enforce and amend those contracts as necessary.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 5/11/2022
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs direct the Improvement and Compliance Service to assign levels of importance to standards and measures used for compliance reviews and test the inscription accuracy of all gravesites sampled.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 2/7/2024

The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs require all state and tribal cemeteries to submit certified condition and operations performance assessments annually.

No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 5/11/2022
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs ensure representatives from all state and tribal cemeteries are provided opportunities to participate in National Cemetery Administration standards training via remote training options and monitor all training to ensure adequate participation.
No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/4/2021
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs continue to seek an increase in cemetery grant funding in excess of $45 million
No. 8
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/4/2021
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs ensure that the Improvement and Compliance Service follows up with Hawaiian cemeteries after action plans are submitted to ensure deficiencies are corrected.
No. 9
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 11/4/2021
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs implement controls to ensure cemeteries that receive provisionally compliant or noncompliant scores during reviews are followed up with on a fixed and regular basis until sufficient corrective action plans are submitted.
No. 10
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 3/4/2024

The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs use accountability measures in the Code of Federal Regulations when appropriate if grantees do not take adequate steps to correct significant long standing deficiencies.

No. 11
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
Closure Date: 8/16/2023
The OIG recommended the under secretary for memorial affairs work with the State of Hawaii Office of Veterans’ Services to conduct an extensive assessment of all eight Hawaii state veterans cemeteries, including organizational oversight and operations, staffing needs (including training), gravesite marker accuracy, and grounds conditions.