An inspector general has launched an investigation into wasteful spending at the Department of Labor (DOL).
DOL inspector general Scott S. Dahl confirmed that his office is reviewing wasteful spending at the Labor Department in a Feb. 27 letter to Republican Sen. Tom Coburn obtained by The Daily Caller.
“I write in response to your letter dated February 14, 2014, regarding your request that the Office of Inspector General investigate wasteful spending practices at the U.S. Department of Labor. We are currently reviewing the information you provided and will keep your office informed of our progress,” Dahl wrote.
Dahl offered Coburn his phone number and the number of the acting director of the division of congressional liaison and communications for answers to follow-up questions.
Coburn, ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, called for an investigation of DOL last month. Coburn said that DOL allegedly hired a public relations firm with a six-figure no-bid contract to promote DOL’s book club and cited other revelations from a recent National Review article by journalist Quin Hillyer, including that “the Department allegedly used funds to hire the mascot of the Washington Nationals” for a centennial celebration.
Wasteful spending is just one of numerous problems at DOL, which recently ranked 19th out of 20 agencies in employee satisfaction according to a government survey.
As TheDC reported, the union that represents low-ranking Department of Labor (DOL) employees alleged racial hiring discrimination and discrimination of people with disabilities in an internal assessment presented to DOL Secretary Thomas Perez.