ACORN Improperly Awarded FEMA Grant, Government Report Claims

(FoxNews.com) - An ACORN affiliate in New Orleans was improperly awarded a fire safety and prevention grant worth nearly a half-million dollars, according to a new report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.

The federal grant detailed in the report dates back to 2007 and was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The review of the now-defunct advocacy organization's funding was requested by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and was distributed Tuesday on Capitol Hill. It is expected to be released next month.

In the findings, obtained by FoxNews.com, the inspector general's office said that FEMA went against the advice of an evaluation panel to hand out the $450,484 grant to the ACORN Institute in New Orleans. From there, not all of the money could be tracked.