Watchdog Accuses DOL of Hampering Probes of Jobless-Aid Fraud

The U.S. Labor Department’s independent watchdog is accusing agency leadership of hindering investigations of fraudulent jobless-benefits claims by limiting the circumstances under which states are mandated to release underlying data to the federal government.

The department recently informed its Office of Inspector General that it will partially address these concerns by revising guidance to expand the scope of unemployment insurance information that state workforce agencies will be required to provide to the watchdog, according to a memo the IG’s office released Monday.

The Inspector General’s office said in the memo that it appreciated the department’s willingness to take corrective action, ...