Federal oversight is entering a new phase

February 13, 2026

Between Treasury’s recent Privacy Act systems of records expansion (FR Doc 2026-02234) and the launch of FinCEN’s new whistleblower portal—complete with financial rewards for tips involving fraud, money laundering, sanctions violations, and misuse of 501(c)(3) funds—the message is clear:

The federal government is sharpening its tools.

Expanded data systems. Cross-agency analytics. Enhanced reporting. Dedicated fraud task forces. Whistleblower incentives.

For those of us in the grants profession, this should not be alarming — it should be clarifying.

If you have been building strong internal controls, documenting assumptions, conducting real risk assessments, and treating federal funds as public tax payer dollars, scrutiny is not something to fear. It is something to welcome.

But make no mistake — the environment has changed.

The era of informal interpretations, inconsistent documentation, and “we’ve always done it this way” is closing. Data is being centralized. Enforcement is being modernized. And oversight is becoming more integrated across Treasury, IRS, FinCEN, and federal grantmaking agencies.

Grant professionals now operate in a landscape where:

• Data trails matter • Certifications carry weight • Monitoring must be real • Subrecipient oversight must be documented • Performance claims must be defensible

This is not about politics. It’s about stewardship.

The best organizations will respond by strengthening governance, investing in compliance capacity, improving documentation discipline, and aligning policy with practice.

Scrutiny is uncomfortable only when systems are weak. When they are strong, it becomes validation.

The grants community should view this moment as an opportunity to elevate the profession — to move from transactional grant administration to disciplined, enterprise-level financial management.

The bar is higher.

That’s not a threat. It’s a responsibility.

Managing grants efficiently, without compromising compliance and integrity, can be a challenging task. If your organization is navigating the complexities of grant management, we can help you enhance oversight, streamline processes, ensure outcomes and reduce the risks of waste, fraud, and abuse. Reach out today to learn how our expertise in grants management can ensure your programs meet their goals, stay compliant, and make the best use of taxpayer dollars. 

Authored by: