Scott Pruitt's $43,000 soundproof phone booth violated spending laws, federal watchdog finds
Last edited Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:03 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Washington Post
The $43,000 soundproof phone booth that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt had installed in his office last year violated federal spending laws, the Government Accountability Office said Monday.
In an eight-page letter to lawmakers, GAO general counsel Thomas H. Armstrong said the agency failed to notify lawmakers that it was exceeding the $5,000 limit for agency heads to furnish, redecorate or otherwise make improvements to their offices. In addition, Armstrong wrote, the agency also violated the federal Antideficiency Act, because EPA obligated appropriated funds in a manner specifically prohibited by law.
The EPA had argued that the $24,000 customized phone booth which required another $18,000 in painting, concrete and electrical work to reconfigure the small closet area where it was placed was not part of a redecoration of Pruitts office and shouldnt be subject to the $5,000 cap.
While the agency maintains other areas in its building where officials can place secure calls, and while none of Pruitt's predecessors have had such a setup, the agency argued that the privacy booth allows Pruitt to make and receive calls to discuss sensitive information (up to the top secret level) for the purpose of conducting agency business. It also argued that the booth was analogous to other functional items an employee might require to perform his job duties such as a high speed computer, high speed copier/scanner, or television.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/16/scott-pruitts-43000-soundproof-phone-booth-violated-spending-laws-federal-watchdog-finds/?utm_term=.38d391faef3f
Full original title and article -
by Washington Post Staff April 16 at 11:18 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency administrator installed a $43,000 soundproof phone booth at agency headquarters last fall.
An investigation by the Government Accountability Office found that the installation violated the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which prohibits an agency from paying more than $5,000 to redecorate or furnish a presidential appointees office without approval.
This is a developing story. It will be updated
True Blue American
(17,985 posts)Make Pruitt pay it back?
BumRushDaShow
(129,084 posts)is in deep doo doo.
BigmanPigman
(51,608 posts)Oh yeah, he is destroying the environment and selling American products that do so to other countries for a hefty profit. I remember now.
modrepub
(3,496 posts)in Trump's eye. Doing the "right" thing means implementing industry inspired roll backs, tying up enforcement actions and generally pissing off "liberals".
duforsure
(11,885 posts)by allowing him to remain in any government position. trump doing this with others by allowing them to live lavishly off of their positions from the pockets of the American people's pockets to theirs. Corruption running wild and trump saying to the American people F. U. .
geomon666
(7,512 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,084 posts)Even the deluxe model would have been cheaper!
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,084 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)That show was so funny
Even at the end..."raise the cone of silence"......."What?"
Sneederbunk
(14,291 posts)Owl
(3,642 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)Christine Todd Whitman was on one of the MSNBC shows a few weeks ago talking about the EPA. She was asked about this soundproof, secure space Pruitt had installed. She said there was no need for it because the EPA already had a secure room elsewhere in the building for any discussions that required it!
BumRushDaShow
(129,084 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)nt
BumRushDaShow
(129,084 posts)trying to luxuriate in graft because you can.
riversedge
(70,242 posts)Akacia
(583 posts)Mostly because there are teachers in this Country using their own funds to buy school supplies for the kiddos. Then you have a jerk like this.......