WASHINGTON — Another federal agency is being probed for questionable travel expenses.
The House GOP and the inspector general are investigating the Veterans Affairs Department for allegedly misusing some of the $5 million that was spent on two Florida conferences last year, where employees received gifts such as alcohol, concert tickets and spa treatments.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said a preliminary investigation has also found that planning trips for the conferences cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.
Internal investigators are also looking into reports that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on promotional items for the 1,800 attendees, Miller said.
“In a twist of irony, a month before these conferences took place, VA officials testified before the committee that more stringent oversight regarding conference expenditures was unnecessary,” Miller said.
VA officials said yesterday that they are cooperating with the investigation and will punish wrongdoers.
The scrutiny of the agency comes as investigators are still trying to sort out wasteful spending at the General Services Administration.
The GSA spent more than $1 million on two conferences, including an $823,000 Las Vegas event that contained lavish receptions and entertainment that included a clown, a mind reader and a comedian.