Speaker Menon questions OMB on Bragg's Home Care contract and monitor

Moving along to a different topic, in April 2026, leaders of the Brooklyn not-for-profit Bragg's Home Care were indicted on federal bribery and embezzlement charges.

Rather than cut ties with Bragg's, the administration has appointed an independent monitor to oversee the group.

Bragg's was awarded two new multi-year contracts.

multi-year contract.

which start on July 1st, worth $186 million for shelter and social services.

Can you explain the administration's decision to continue its relationship with Braggs, considering the recent federal charges?

Well, as you noted, Speaker, we have the vendor has a corrective action plan.

We're working with DOI to make sure that there's a monitor and there is, you know, those protocols in place.

And we'll stay working closely between the agency and the Department of Investigation to make sure that corrective action is taken according to that corrective action plan.

Why not just cease interaction with this organization and select a new provider?

Again, the safeguards are in place with the DOI, with DOI in the mix, overseeing, having a corrective action plan, and a monitor for this provider.

Who is the independent monitor and how are they selected?

I'd have to get back to you on that.

Okay, if you could get back to us this week on that.

And then also, did the appointment of the monitor require a new contract?

Is it additional funding?

If so, how much did the monitor cost?

Have the funds in the budget been allocated to the monitor?

Let me see.

Turn over to Patrick, if you have.

We did not add new funding for that.

There's funding allocated within each of the agency budgets for this type of monitoring.

So it was within that.

Okay.

So if you could get that, I do want to express my strong concern with this.

decision.

I don't understand it and I don't know why I knew why continue to contract with this entity.

So I want to make sure we are saying that.

And I do want to say it's not the first time concerns have been raised about a not-for-profit organization contracting with DHS in 2025 for employees at a different shelter provider were indicted for wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering.

So what steps is the administration taking to address systemic deficiencies in contract oversight to ensure that public dollars are being used responsibly?

We continue to work with our agencies and we continue to work with, you know, the Department of Investigation to ensure that if there's any

contracts that are not being implemented in the appropriate way, that there's appropriate action that's taken.