Millions for veterans sat unspent for 3 years and now it may be too late

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/06/millions-veterans-sat-unspent-3-years-and-now-it-may-be-too-late

Millions for veterans sat unspent for 3 years and now it may be too late
By Lisa Rein
The Washington Post
© June 27, 2015

WASHINGTON

For three years, more than $43 million the Department of Veterans Affairs had set aside to inform veterans about their benefits sat in an account, not a penny spent, until an agency financial manager happened to notice.

By then, it may have become too late for the cash-strapped agency to spend the money, a new report says.

The Inspector General's office, in a report issued last week, cited a "breakdown of fiscal controls" and "lack of oversight" in concluding that VA officials had "no need" for the $43.1 million. At least not for the purpose they claimed, which was to print personalized handbooks that explain in detail what benefits a veteran is eligible for.

Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin's audit comes as top VA officials prepare to tell House lawmakers Thursday that they're facing a $2.6 billion budget shortfall that's partly responsible for a new explosion in wait times for medical care. Senior leaders say they may have to start a hiring freeze or furlough employees unless funding is reallocated for the federal government's second-largest agency.

[daleanime]

1. ........

[marym625]

2. Oh man!

This is awful! Truly awful! I hope they will fix this and not just take the funds away.

How can they say both lack of oversight and they don't need it? Obviously, if the controls were bad, they need the money

Some posts just make me think of Jackpine Radical. This is one of them.