House Committee on Government Reform Chairman Rep. [crscore]Jason Chaffetz[/crscore] hammered Department of Education (DOE) leaders late Monday for “turning a blind eye” to “serious” misconduct by senior officials.
The Utah Republican wrote in a letter to Acting Secretary of Education John King, criticizing him for imposing token disciplinary actions against senior officials the DOE Office of Inspector General found sexually harassed employees, violated federal law and committed perjury.
Chaffetz urged King to take investigators’ findings more seriously and reconsider punishment for GS-15 and Senior Executive Service-level (SES) employees, although he didn’t suggest anything specific. President Barack Obama has nominated King to be the permanent Secretary of Education.
“Setting a strong example that these types of behavior will not be tolerated at the department is important, now more than ever before,” Chaffetz said in his letter to King. “… As current Acting Secretary and the president’s nominee for Secretary of Education, you have the responsibility to set the tone for the department.”
Chaffetz also cited DOE Chief Information Officer Danny Harris, who the IG said broke 12 federal laws, regulations and directives, including failing to report outside income tax. Harris announced his retirement Friday, before the DOE could take any administrative action.
The IG also found 18 unnamed department employees — including three SES-level employees and five GS-15s — who appeared to violate the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from participating in partisan political activity, Chaffetz said. The department only warned or counseled the individual employees involved.
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