Cardinal Care Strategies
4600 E Jackson St, Muncie, IN 47303Map
Medicare/Medicaid certified104 certified beds~79 residents/dayFor profit - Corporation
What the abuse icon means moreless
CMS flags a facility with its abuse icon when inspectors cited it for abuse that harmed a resident within the past year, or for abuse that could have harmed a resident in each of the last two years. CMS shows this same icon on its own Care Compare site, and caps the facility's ratings while it's flagged. The icon is removed when newer inspections come back clean. The deficiency list below will contain the underlying citations — read them.
What to do with this: read the abuse-related citations below, and ask the facility directly what happened and what changed. Verify the current status at medicare.gov/care-compare.
What Special Focus status means moreless
CMS keeps a short national list of nursing homes with the most persistent serious problems — the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program. SFF homes get inspected about twice as often and must improve or face termination from Medicare/Medicaid. 'SFF candidate' means the home qualifies for the list but isn't on it yet (the list has limited slots per state). Some SFF homes do graduate and improve; the designation means CMS is watching closely right now.
What to do with this: ask the administrator where the home is in the SFF process and what the improvement plan is. Verify status at medicare.gov/care-compare.
Last standard health inspection: January 9, 2026
Cardinal Care Strategies is a 104-bed for-profit, corporation-owned nursing home in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, serving an average of 79 residents per day. As of CMS data processed June 1, 2026, its overall rating is 1 of 5 stars.
CMS star ratings
CMS scores every nursing home 1–5 stars overall, built from three sub-ratings. moreless
Medicare inspects and measures every certified nursing home, then rolls the results into a 1–5 star overall rating. It combines three parts: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Five stars means much better than average — it does not mean perfect. One star means much worse than average — it does not mean every shift is bad. Stars are a screening tool, not a verdict. They can lag reality by months, and they can't see things like how kind the aides are or how the building smells at 7am.
What to do with this: use stars to build a shortlist, then visit in person. Nothing on this site replaces walking the halls.
Health-inspection stars are graded on a curve within each state — never compare stars across state lines. moreless
CMS sets health-inspection star cutoffs separately for each state: roughly the top 10% of homes in a state get 5 stars, the bottom 20% get 1 star, no matter how the state compares to others. That means a 4-star home in one state and a 4-star home in another state may have very different inspection records. The stars tell you how a home compares to its neighbors, not to the whole country. That's why this site shows your state's median next to each star rating — and never a national star comparison.
What to do with this: compare stars only between homes in the same state. To compare across states, use staffing hours — those are real numbers, not curves.
Not all three sub-ratings are equally hard to game: inspections are the most objective, quality measures the least. moreless
The three sub-ratings come from different sources. Health inspections are done on-site by trained state surveyors who show up mostly unannounced — the most objective signal. Staffing comes from payroll records that facilities must submit and CMS audits — quite reliable. Quality measures are partly self-reported by the facility from its own resident assessments — useful, but the facility grades some of its own homework.
What to do with this: when sub-ratings disagree, weigh the inspection star most and the quality-measure star least.
Staffing
Reported hours per resident per day, from payroll records. Hours, unlike stars, can be compared across states.
Hours per resident per day: total staff hours worked, divided by the number of residents. moreless
If a home reports 3.5 total nursing hours per resident per day, that's all nursing staff time across 24 hours — roughly one caregiver-hour every 7 hours per resident, spread across day, evening, and night shifts. On a real floor it decides whether call lights get answered in 5 minutes or 25, whether someone has time to help with dinner, and whether night shift is one aide for a hall or two. Unlike star ratings, hours are actual numbers, so they CAN be compared across state lines.
What to do with this: compare a home's hours to the state and national medians shown, and ask the facility how the hours split across day, evening, and night shifts.
RN (registered nurse) hours
LPN (licensed practical nurse) hours
Nurse aide hours
Total nursing hours
CMS also adjusts these numbers for how sick each home’s residents are — a home with sicker residents needs more staff for the same star. This home’s case-mix-adjusted total: 3.25 (US median, adjusted: 3.78).
CMS also adjusts staffing numbers for how sick each home's residents are. moreless
A home full of short-term rehab patients needs different staffing than a home caring for people with advanced dementia or ventilators. Case-mix adjustment estimates how many hours a home's particular residents need, then scales the reported hours so homes can be compared fairly. A home with sicker residents needs more staff for the same star. This page shows reported (raw payroll) numbers and compares them only to other reported numbers — like with like.
What to do with this: if a home's reported hours look low, check whether its residents may simply need less care — and ask the facility directly.
Staff turnover
Total nursing staff turnover: 98.8% · IN median: 45.9% · RN turnover: 100% (IN median: 40%)
The share of nursing staff who left within the year. Lower is steadier. moreless
Total nursing staff turnover is the percentage of the home's nurses and aides who stopped working there during the year. Around half of nursing-home staff leaving annually is sadly common in this industry. High turnover means residents are cared for by people who don't know them — which matters enormously for dementia care, pain management, and noticing the small changes that catch problems early. Low turnover usually means staff are treated well enough to stay.
What to do with this: when you visit, ask aides how long they've worked there. Long-tenured aides are the best sign a building has.
Inspections & deficiencies
The last 3 inspection cycles, from CMS’s federal health-survey file. State-only citations and fire-safety surveys are not included — an empty list means nothing federal is in this file, not that nothing ever happened.
Each deficiency gets a letter A–L: how severe it was × how widespread it was. moreless
Surveyors grade every deficiency on a grid. Severity runs from 'potential for minimal harm' up to 'immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.' Scope runs from isolated (one or a few residents) to pattern to widespread. A and B are paperwork-level; D–F caused no actual harm but had the potential; G–I caused actual harm; J, K, and L mean immediate jeopardy — the most serious finding a surveyor can make. Most citations nationally are D–E.
What to do with this: scan for G or higher. One J/K/L tells you more than ten D's.
Standard surveys are routine; complaint surveys happen because someone reported a problem. moreless
A standard survey is the routine top-to-bottom inspection every home gets on a recurring cycle. A complaint survey happens because a resident, family member, or staff member reported something to the state — surveyors come specifically to investigate it. Infection-control surveys focus on practices like hand hygiene and isolation procedures. A deficiency found during a complaint survey means someone cared enough to report it and a surveyor confirmed enough to cite it.
What to do with this: note which deficiencies came from complaints — they show you what residents and families actually experienced.
The F-number on each deficiency is CMS's code for which federal requirement was violated. moreless
Every federal nursing-home requirement has a tag number. F0686, for example, is the pressure-ulcer requirement; F0600 is freedom from abuse. The tag tells you exactly which rule was broken, and the description next to it is CMS's own plain-language summary of that rule. The same tag appearing across multiple inspections is a pattern worth noticing.
What to do with this: if the same tag repeats across surveys, ask the facility what changed since the last citation.
This data shows federal health surveys only — state-only citations and fire-safety surveys aren't included. moreless
CMS's public deficiency file contains federal health-survey citations. It does not include citations issued under state-only rules, fire-safety (Life Safety Code) surveys, or anything older than three inspection cycles. A facility with no rows here may still have state citations or fire-safety findings. 'No deficiencies in this file' never means 'no violations ever.'
What to do with this: for the full picture, check your state health department's site and medicare.gov/care-compare, which shows fire-safety results separately.
57 deficiencies across the last 3 inspection cycles, in CMS’s federal health-survey file:
- Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: 18
- Resident Rights: 9
- Quality of Life and Care: 8
- Pharmacy Service: 5
- Resident Assessment and Care Planning: 4
- Nutrition and Dietary: 4
- Infection Control: 4
- Nursing and Physician Services: 3
- Administration: 2
April 22, 2026Complaint surveyTag F0600D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Deficient, Provider has plan of correction · corrected May 30, 2026
April 22, 2026Complaint surveyTag F0603E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Protect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room).
Deficient, Provider has plan of correction · corrected May 30, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard + Complaint surveyTag F0559D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to share a room with spouse or roommate of choice and receive written notice before a change is made.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0570E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Assure the security of all personal funds of residents deposited with the facility.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0582D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0600D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0605D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0610D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0628D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0645D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
Show 47 more deficiencies
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0657D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0695D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0761E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0803F — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0867D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0880D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
January 9, 2026Standard surveyTag F0883D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
December 12, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0600J — immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
December 12, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0609J — immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected December 15, 2025
December 12, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0610J — immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 4, 2026
August 25, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0740D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected September 12, 2025
May 27, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0600D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 9, 2025
May 27, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0607E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 9, 2025
May 27, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0610D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 9, 2025
March 21, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0695D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected April 11, 2025
March 21, 2025Complaint surveyTag F0880D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected April 11, 2025
December 17, 2024Standard surveyTag F0744D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected January 15, 2025
December 17, 2024Standard surveyTag F0761D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected January 15, 2025
December 17, 2024Standard surveyTag F0803D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected January 15, 2025
December 17, 2024Standard surveyTag F0809E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected January 15, 2025
December 17, 2024Standard surveyTag F0812C — no actual harm, potential for minimal harm, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected January 15, 2025
November 14, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0711E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected December 13, 2024
November 14, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0712E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected December 13, 2024
September 20, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0610D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected October 3, 2024
May 21, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0550D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 6, 2024
May 21, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0684D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 6, 2024
April 3, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0658D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 6, 2024
March 14, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0740D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected June 6, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0554D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0561D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0622E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0744D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0758D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0761D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 30, 2024Standard surveyTag F0880D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 3, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0602D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 3, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0609D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
January 3, 2024Complaint surveyTag F0610D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
December 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0658D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
December 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0727D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
December 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0851F — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected February 14, 2024
October 23, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0580D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected November 9, 2023
September 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0609D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected September 29, 2023
September 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0610D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected September 29, 2023
September 6, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0689D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected September 29, 2023
June 21, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0600D — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected July 12, 2023
June 21, 2023Complaint surveyTag F0761E — no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Deficient, Provider has date of correction · corrected July 21, 2023
Fines & penalties
CMS can fine a home or stop paying for new admissions. Shown per CMS's current data window (~3 years) — not all-time. moreless
When deficiencies are serious or aren't fixed, CMS can impose a fine (a civil money penalty) or a payment denial — refusing to pay for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions until the home fixes the problem. Payment denials hit harder than most fines because they stop revenue. CMS's public dataset covers a rolling window of roughly the last three years, so the totals here are recent history, not an all-time record. Many facilities have no penalties in the window — that's common, not remarkable.
What to do with this: a recent large fine deserves a direct question on your visit — what happened, and what changed?
No federal penalties in CMS’s current data window — many facilities have none; this is common.
Ownership & chain
Who actually owns and controls the facility — individuals, companies, and their stakes. moreless
Nursing homes are often owned through layers: an operating company, a property company, management companies, and individual investors with percentage stakes. CMS publishes who holds 5%-or-greater interests and who has operational control. Ownership matters because it sets the budget: research has linked some ownership structures, especially certain chains and investment vehicles, to lower staffing. That's a pattern across the industry, not a verdict on any one building.
What to do with this: know who owns the home before you sign anything, and ask the administrator who actually sets the staffing budget.
CMS lists no chain affiliation for this facility.
| Owner / manager | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski Memorial Hospital (Organization) | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | 100% | 06/27/2021 |
| Young, Cathy (Individual) | Contracted managing employee | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/27/2021 |
| Barry, Thomas (Individual) | Corporate officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/27/2021 |
| Malott, Gregg (Individual) | Corporate officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/27/2021 |
Nearby facilities in Delaware County
Most families compare 2–3 homes. Same county, sorted by overall rating:
Visiting? Go in with questions.
Built from this facility’s own CMS data — bring them on the tour.
- CMS has applied its abuse icon to this facility — ask what happened, what the corrective plan was, and how staff are trained now.
- CMS lists this facility as a Special Focus Facility candidate — ask where the home is in the program and what the improvement plan is.
- Their reported RN hours (0.34/resident/day) are below the IN median (0.59) — ask how nights and weekends are staffed.
- Their total nursing staff turnover (98.8%) is above the IN median (45.9%) — ask how long the aides on your person's unit have worked there.
- Their weekend total nurse staffing (2.97/resident/day) is lower than their overall figure (3.27) — ask who covers weekends and how shifts are filled when someone calls out.
- Their last standard health inspection was January 9, 2026 — ask what's improved since then.
- CMS records that this facility has a resident council — ask to speak with a council member before deciding.
Data: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (data.cms.gov), processing date June 1, 2026. This site is not affiliated with CMS or any government agency.