Scott Pruitt's $43,000 soundproof phone booth violated spending laws, federal watchdog finds [View all]

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Last edited Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post

The $43,000 soundproof phone booth that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt had installed in his office last year violated federal spending laws, the Government Accountability Office said Monday.

In an eight-page letter to lawmakers, GAO general counsel Thomas H. Armstrong said the agency failed to notify lawmakers that it was exceeding the $5,000 limit for agency heads to furnish, redecorate or otherwise make improvements to their offices. In addition, Armstrong wrote, the agency also violated the federal Antideficiency Act, because EPA obligated appropriated funds in a manner specifically prohibited by law.

The EPA had argued that the $24,000 customized phone booth which required another $18,000 in painting, concrete and electrical work to reconfigure the small closet area where it was placed was not part of a redecoration of Pruitts office and shouldnt be subject to the $5,000 cap.

While the agency maintains other areas in its building where officials can place secure calls, and while none of Pruitt's predecessors have had such a setup, the agency argued that the privacy booth allows Pruitt to make and receive calls to discuss sensitive information (up to the top secret level) for the purpose of conducting agency business. It also argued that the booth was analogous to other functional items an employee might require to perform his job duties such as a high speed computer, high speed copier/scanner, or television.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/16/scott-pruitts-43000-soundproof-phone-booth-violated-spending-laws-federal-watchdog-finds/?utm_term=.38d391faef3f

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Full original title and article -

Cost of EPA chief Scott Pruitts secure phone booth violated law limiting such expenses to $5,000 without prior approval, GAO says

by Washington Post Staff April 16 at 11:18 AM

The Environmental Protection Agency administrator installed a $43,000 soundproof phone booth at agency headquarters last fall.

An investigation by the Government Accountability Office found that the installation violated the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which prohibits an agency from paying more than $5,000 to redecorate or furnish a presidential appointees office without approval.

This is a developing story. It will be updated

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