As the largest stimulus package ever, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act brings with it the largest emergency oversight challenges federal government agencies have ever faced. While dealing with the coronavirus, agencies must strike a balance between taking swift, mission-focused actions and mitigating the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse.
To promote effective oversight and reporting of CARES Act spending, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum 20-21: Implementation Guidelines for Supplemental Funding Provided in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019.
This issue brief summarizes OMB Memorandum 20-21 requirements and provides matters for consideration related to each of the three main principles:
- Mission achievement
- Expediency
- Transparency and accountability
