Oklahoma halts weatherization program after audit reveals $663,000 in questionable spending

追加: 2026-05-25

[00:00:02]KYLIE WALKER KOCO FIVE NEWS.

[00:00:06]THE STATE IS STOPPING A PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME FAMILIES LOWER THEIR ENERGY BILLS AFTER AN AUDIT ALLEGED MISSPENDING OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

[00:00:17]KOCO CHANTELLE NAVARRO JOINING US LIVE TONIGHT, BREAKING THIS DOWN FOR US.

[00:00:22]CHANTELLE.

[00:00:23]YEAH, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY IN OKLAHOMA CITY’S WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.

[00:00:29]NOW, STAFF IS SUPPOSED TO DO THINGS LIKE HELP PEOPLE AIR SEAL THEIR WINDOWS, EVEN HELPING WITH THEIR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS.

[00:00:39]BUT AUDIT FOUND MISUSE OF ABOUT $600,000.

[00:00:41]WHISTLEBLOWERS POINTING FINGERS AT THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF OKC, OKLAHOMA, AND CANADIAN COUNTIES LED TO AN INTERNAL REVIEW, THEN AN AUDIT, AND NOW AT LEAST $663,000 ARE IN QUESTION.

[00:00:54]THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SAYS BEING TRANSPARENT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS A PRIORITY, AND THANKS TO THOSE WHISTLEBLOWERS FOR LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE.

[00:01:02]THIS IS WHAT’S UNDER HEAT AT THE AGENCY.

[00:01:05]THE FEDERALLY FUNDED WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

[00:01:07]IT OFFERED LOW INCOME FAMILIES HELP WITH THINGS LIKE LOW FLOW SHOWERHEADS, REPLACING HEAT AND COOLING SYSTEMS, WEATHER STRIPPING, AND EVEN INSTALLING INSULATION.

[00:01:16]I KNEW THAT I HAD TO USE ELECTRIC HEATERS, SO THEY WANTED TO PUT IN CENTRAL HEATING AIR.

[00:01:22]JENNY HUMBLE SAYS SHE SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM YEARS AGO, BUT EVEN AFTER STAFF SHOWED UP TO HER HOUSE AND OFFERED REPAIRS, THEY NEVER CAME BACK.

[00:01:30]SO SHE THEN TRIED CALLING, BUT.

[00:01:32]AND SHE SAID, THERE’S NO ONE THERE THAT WORKS THERE FOR THAT PROGRAM.

[00:01:36]AND IT WAS NO LONGER THERE FOR ANYONE.

[00:01:39]WE REACHED OUT TO SEE A OKC, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THEY’RE INVESTIGATING THE GOVERNOR’S CLAIMS, SAYS THE AGENCY VOLUNTARILY ENDED ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM ON JUNE 6TH, 2025, AFTER DETERMINING THE PROGRAM WASN’T SUSTAINABLE UNDER THE EXPANDED FEDERAL FUNDING STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, THE AGENCY ADDED, THEY’VE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN AN ONGOING REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO EVALUATE PROGRAM EXPENDITURES AND DETERMINE APPROPRIATE RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS UTILIZED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

[00:02:11]HOWEVER, THE AGENCY SAYS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO COOPERATING FULLY WITH THE STATE AND CONTINUING THEIR MISSION OF SERVING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

[00:02:20]ALL RIGHT, SO NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE CALLED ON THE AG’S OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE, DRUMMOND IS NOW GOING TO LOOK INTO WHETHER THERE’S ANY LEGAL ACTION THAT THE STATE CAN TAKE.

[00:02:29]THE STATE ISN’T COMMENTING ANY FURTHER UNTIL THEY FIGURE THAT OUT.