On Tuesday the Social Security Administration revealed that the federal government mistakenly sent out stimulus checks to 1,700 inmates. That error cost $425,000.

In a written statement, Social Security spokesman Dan Moraski said that the money went out because official records "did not accurately reflect that they were in prison."

The inspector general's office for the SSA is now looking into the issue as part of its broader audit on stimulus spending. The SSA did not publicly acknowledge the glitch until a report that nearly two dozen inmates in Massachusetts had wrongly received the $250 stimulus checks.

The discovery has also prompted criticism from Republicans who are already critical of the $787 billion stimulus and the way in which has been managed. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said in a written statement:

"It is unacceptable for convicts to be getting stimulus funds. It speaks to the lack of oversight and accountability to have such nonsense coming out of Washington. Where is the accountability?"