The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) purchased a $31,000 dining room set for Secretary Ben Carson’s office, according to a Tuesday report.
The $31,561 purchase consisted of a custom hardwood table, chairs and a hutch for Carson’s office by a career staffer, reported The New York Times.
Carson was unaware that the purchase had been made, according to a HUD spokesperson. However, he does not think that the dining set was too expensive, so he doesn’t plan on returning it, HUD spokesman Raffi Williams said to TheNYT.
“In general, the secretary does want to be as fiscally prudent as possible with the taxpayers’ money,” he said.
ALSO WATCH:
Federal law dictates that departments must seek permission “to furnish or redecorate the office of a department head” if they want to spend more than $5,000 doing so. HUD officials reportedly did not ask for congressional approval, as Williams said the table was there to serve a “building-wide need.”
The table set is reportedly coming from Sebree and Associates, a Maryland company, according to records from CNBC.
Send tips to amber@
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.