New requirements have been ordered for GSA employees following an inspector general report slamming the agency for lavish and wasteful spending for a 2010 Western Regions Conference, which in turn led to the resignation of administrator Martha Johnson and the firing or suspension of a number of other top officials.
That includes new mandatory annual training for all employees regarding conference planning and attendance.
The IG released findings of a yearlong review of the conference finding excessive spending and possible misconduct. It’s only the latest conference-spending scandal – a similar IG report from Justice last fall pointed out exorbitant conference costs there — but the timing couldn’t have been worse for an Obama administration working to promote efficiency initiatives and burnish its image on spending ahead of the November elections.
GSA said it would accelerate changes already planned for this year including immediately assigning the chief administrative services officer responsibility for: oversight of contracting for conference space, related activities, and amenities; review and approval of proposed conferences in relation to mission; review and approval of any awards ceremonies where food is provided by the federal government; review and approval of conference budgets as well as changes to the budget; oversight and coordination with GSA conference/event planners and contracting officers on conference planning; and, review of travel and accommodations related to conference planning and execution.
