SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – The finances of a Native American tribe in central South Dakota have been under the scrutiny of at least three government agencies, according to its response to a federal watchdog’s report Wednesday that said tribal officials misspent part of nearly $2.7 million in Department of Justice grant money.

The audit by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General found the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe had about $937,000 in unallowable, unsupported or unreasonable expenses. The tribe’s response to the audit also confirms that several federal agencies began questioning its use of taxpayer funds months after an international human rights organization issued a report alleging that tribal leaders had misdirected millions of dollars intended to help impoverished tribal members.

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General notified the tribe it was auditing its use of the nearly $2.7 million from seven federal grants in June 2015, according to the response written by tribal finance staff members. That same month and the following one, the IRS and the Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General also began audits into the tribe’s finances.

“The expansive demands of these audits have been so great, in fact, that some remain to be completed as of the date of this response,” the tribe wrote. “The (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) has been subjected to requests for thousands of documents and reports by these federal agencies.”

The tribe’s secretary and treasurer, Orville Langdeau, said in a statement Wednesday that the findings of the Justice Department report seem standard.

In January 2015, the nonprofit Human Rights Watch outlined numerous allegations against then-tribal chairman Michael Jandreau and others, accusing them of diverting money and concealing financial activity. Jandreau, who served as chairman for decades until his death in April, vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

Since Jandreau’s death, the tribe’s government has experienced a sustained period of legal deadlock with Langdeau and other supporters of Jandreau on one side and tribal leaders pushing for transparency on the other.

Acting tribal chairman Kevin Wright said Wednesday that he was unaware of the audit, which focused on grant money that the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs issued between 2009 and 2012 for efforts including reducing gang-related activity and juvenile delinquency.

“I’m surprised, shocked and not so shocked,” Wright, who was elected as vice chairman, said of the audit.

The report concluded that the tribe spent funds without prior approval and paid for unbudgeted positions with federal money, among other concerns. For example, auditors found roughly $150,000 in unallowable personnel costs because positions including a chief prosecutor were paid through grant funds even though they weren’t approved in the grant budgets.

Langdeau said the tribe looks forward to all the audits being finished and its “exoneration.”

“For over a year, there have been allegations made about the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and our finances. Does this report state anything about any missing money?” Langdeau said. “The more important issue is what is not included.”

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General said last year that auditors were examining nearly $20 million in grants to the tribe in response to the Human Rights Watch report. The inquiry is ongoing.