Semiannual Report to Congress #54 (April 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016)

I am pleased to submit our latest Semiannual Report to the United States Congress. This report highlights the activities of our office for the six months ending September 30, 2016, pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.

In September, Joe Boardman stepped down from his position as Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). During his eight years at the helm, Amtrak delivered record ridership, introduced a series of safety initiatives, and began to modernize its fleet. I commend Joe for his dedication to Amtrak and its employees. Also, I look forward to a continued positive working relationship with Amtrak’s new President and CEO, Charles “Wick” Moorman.

Throughout this semiannual period, our work continued to focus on high‐impact areas aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Amtrak programs and operations. Notably, we delivered two Congressionally‐mandated audits: one assessing the company’s passenger boarding procedures; and, the other on the extent to which Amtrak competitively awarded contracts under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also reported on opportunities to improve the company’s video surveillance systems network and identified opportunities to put funds to better use on a technical support services contract. Further, our investigative efforts continued to identify and deter fraud, waste, and abuse. We addressed issues involving a contractor who was defrauding Amtrak, as well as employee fraud related to overtime hours and relocation expenses, theft, and computer misuse—including viewing sexually explicit material.