Even government agencies that perform an identifiable function should be eliminated if they are not performing a proper function of government.
But what about an agency that exists primarily “to provide luxurious lifestyles for its employees”?
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is one of the agencies getting the ax under the Trump administration, at least until some judge tries to resurrect it.
Nominally, FMCS existed to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses. But aside from doling out grants to unions and applicants with a tenuous connection to unions, its overriding purpose was to enable employees to splurge on themselves at the expense of taxpayers.
That’s what Luke Rosiak discovered during a year-long investigation.
One FMCS official pretended to take a years-long “business trip” so that taxpayers would foot the bill for his living expenses.
Employees unblocked government credit cards to circumvent protections against abuse, then used them to fund personal expenses. One leased a BMW with the card.
Junkets to resort locations supposedly to drum up interest in the pointless agency were really just a way of enjoying government-funded vacations.
One employee told Rosiak: “Personally, the reason that I’ve stayed is that I just don’t feel like working that hard, plus the location on K Street is great, plus we all have these oversized offices with windows, plus management doesn’t seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time. Can you blame me?”
Yes, we can.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
Illustration created with Krea and Firefly
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