Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs Committee, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and ranking
member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., said the examples of
“blatant waste of millions of taxpayer dollars” uncovered
in the report are “troubling.”
“Fiscal prudence by government agencies is important at
all times,” wrote the senators in a letter to administrator
Michael D. Griffith citing examples of unauthorized use
of the aircraft fleet, such as trips by family and
contractors, as well as travel to an executive retreat
and a Pearl Harbor 60th anniversary commemoration in Hawaii.
NASA responded to the report by ordering a comprehensive
review of the agency’s ownership and operation of passenger
aircraft, due to be completed by the end of the month.
“It is particularly important now, when we are faced with
the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on already tight
federal budgets,” the senators said.
