Management

GSA Scandal in Perspective: Stress relief at SSA racks up $700,000

The Social Security Administration came under fire for a three-day, $700,000 conference in Phoenix for about 700 SSA managers. Agency officials said the confere...

Federal News Network Staff

April 17, 2012 8:42 pm

< a min read

The Social Security Administration came under fire for a three-day, $700,000 conference in Phoenix for about 700 SSA managers. Agency officials said the conference would help employees learn how to reduce stress caused by an increased number of threats against the agency, but lawmakers demanded an investigation into the spending.

An inspector general’s report issued about five months later, found that most of the conference’s costs complied with agency guidance. However, the IG identified about $13,400 in questionable spending and violations of ethics rules dealing with gifts and donations. Also, regional staff “could have maintained better contract procurement documentation” spent on training, the IG said.

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