Correction to News Article: Inspector General’s Role in NASA Financial Reporting

A recent Knight Ridder story about Arthur Anderson’s audit of NASA’s
fiscal year 1999 financial statements contains erroneous statements
regarding the role of NASA’s Office of Inspector General. The story,
which was run in several newspapers, states: “The $644 million error
began when NASA’s Inspector General counted the figure twice in his
[sic] 1999 year-end financial report.”

This information is inaccurate. The NASA Inspector General is not
responsible for preparing NASA’s financial reports. NASA financial
managers are responsible for preparing NASA’s financial statements and
reports. The NASA Office of Inspector General is responsible for
conducting or arranging for an independent audit of NASA’s financial
statements. The Office of Inspector General contracted with Arthur
Andersen LLP to conduct independent audits of NASA’s financial
statements for fiscal years 1996-2000.