Ayotte: Tough Oversight Needed to Eliminate Waste at Department of Homeland Security

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), today released the following statement in response to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to temporarily suspend an overtime pay program that has defrauded taxpayers to the tune of millions of dollars:

"I'm pleased that DHS has taken an important first step to remedy this flagrant misuse of taxpayer dollars, but tougher oversight of the department is necessary to eliminate further waste, mismanagement and inefficiencies," said Ayotte. "I will continue to work with my colleagues to find a long term solution to this problem that is fair to those who protect our borders and ensures our tax dollars are spent wisely. In addition, the Senate should act quickly to confirm the president's nominee to serve as DHS Inspector General - a position that has remained vacant for far too long."

Last fall, in light of whistle-blower complaints and a subsequent Office of Special Counsel report identifying employee abuse of the DHS overtime pay system, Senator Ayotte called for an investigation into the reported abuse and wrote President Obama urging him to

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