Letter to Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn - Investigation into Reported Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars at Department of Homeland Security

Letter

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called for an investigation into reported abuses of the Department of Homeland Security's overtime pay system that resulted in millions of dollars in improper payments. A report issued Thursday by the federal Office of Special Counsel found that some DHS employees have been padding their pay by claiming overtime pay that is unearned and unjustified.

"I'm deeply troubled by the flagrant misuse of government funds described in the report, and I am requesting a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as soon as possible to investigate these findings," Ayotte wrote in a letter to the committee's chairman and ranking member.

She continued, "One whistleblower estimated that 27 employees in the CBP's Commissioner's Situation Room improperly requested $696,000. Whistleblower testimony indicates many employees even consider themselves to be entitled to such pay. This is unacceptable."

In her letter, Ayotte also expressed continued concern regarding DHS' current lack of a permanent Inspector General - a critical oversight position dedicated to rooting out waste, mismanagement, and inefficiency within the department.

AYOTTE LETTER TO CHAIRMAN CARPER AND RANKING MEMBER COBURN:

November 1, 2013

Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn:

I'm writing regarding a report released Thursday by the federal Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that details widespread abuses of the Department of Homeland Security's overtime pay system to the tune of millions of taxpayer dollars in improper overtime payments. I am deeply troubled by the flagrant misuse of government funds described in the report, and I am requesting a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as soon as possible to investigate these findings.

The OSC report submitted to Congress on October 31, 2013, found that this "profound and entrenched problem" has enabled employees in four Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offices and two others to amass $8.7 million in unearned overtime payments per year. Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime is intended to compensate for unanticipated, urgent work-not to pad the pockets of employees who knowingly claim payments that are unearned and unjustified. One whistleblower estimated that 27 employees in the CBP's Commissioner's Situation Room improperly requested $696,000. Whistleblower testimony indicates many employees even consider themselves to be entitled to such pay. This is unacceptable.

I am even more concerned by the reported endemic nature of the problem within DHS' culture, particularly the apparent lack of oversight within the department to discourage, reprimand, and end such behavior. I cannot help but note that DHS has been without a permanent Inspector General since January 2011. This report is a reminder of the critical role Inspectors General play in identifying similar incidents of waste and inefficiency, and DHS has been without an IG for far too long.

At a time when departments are facing strained budgets, we must scrutinize spending across government to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently. I respectfully request a committee hearing as soon as possible to examine these reported abuses.

Thank you for your consideration.

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