House Republicans raise concerns about Energy Department spending policies

House Oversight Chairman James Comer and GOP Rep. Pat Fallon are raising concerns about regarding alleged spending violations at the Energy Department.

The lawmakers wrote in a letter Tuesday to the agency's inspector general alleging "numerous anomalies" in expense vouchers that have been reviewed by the committee. 

In the letter, the chairman and Texas congressman, who also is member of the committee, requested a review of alleged patterns of waste, fraud, and abuse in reimbursement overpayments at the department.

"We request that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the internal management controls regarding travel by Department of Energy (DOE) employees and related expense reimbursements," the letter reads. "DOE has produced documents in response to a Committee request containing 54 expense vouchers related to lodging and travel."

They requested reviews of travel authorizations, DOE lodging and international travel from officials. 

"Collectively, they signal a potential failure to adhere to best practices related to government accounting standards intended to ensure compliance with the Federal Travel Regulation," the lawmakers wrote.