FAA Spent $5 Million on Christmas Parties

[The Straight Story]

FAA Spent $5 Million on Christmas Parties


Claiming it needed to train its managers about a new labor contract with air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spent $5 million this month on three one- week “conferences” in Atlanta. But an investigation by ABC News revealed that the event was little more than an extended Christmas party for 3,600 FAA employees, complete with drunken revelry and inappropriate behavior.

Undercover video taken by ABC reporters revealed FAA workers bragging about dancing on tables and almost getting arrested. One manager asked a female reporter if she was a prostitute.

In addition to spending $140 a night on thousands of hotel rooms, the FAA gave each employee $81 per day to spend on meals and personal expenses.

“It’s the wrong time to spend five million dollars on a Christmas party for anybody’s employees, especially in the government,” Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, told ABC News.

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/FAA_Spent_5_Million_Dollars_on_Christmas_Parties_91225

[FrenchieCat]

1. Were there any meetings held during the day?

Even if I understand that some may have chosen to party at night.

The only reason that I am asking is that ABC sucks ass IMO.....
So when they report on something, I usually don't give them the benefit of the doubt
any longer that they are telling a straight story.

[snagglepuss]

2. I'm all for firing idiotic spendthrift managers. There is no excuse for wasting that

amount of money when there is so much real need.

[Sherman A1]

3. I think an investigation by the GAO

might be in order.

[Octafish]

4. Speaking of FAA, did they ever figure out why Paul Wellstone's plane crashed?

Sorry if it seems OT, but that is an important part of their job. When they're not busy partying, that is.

[Duckhunter935]

5. NTSB

NTSB not the FAA does crash investigation

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=DCA03MA008&rpt=fi

[Octafish]

7. Thank you. Much obliged.

NTSB said the plane probably stalled, blaming aircrew.

It still seems unlikely to me, knowing Wellstone stood between BFEE and war.

[starroute]

6. The ABC story is pretty warped

Any time they start quoting Citizens Against Government Waste, my bullshit meter goes off.

In this case, it was a real conference, organized to bring 3600 managers up to speed on a new contract. There was a welcoming party -- and some of the attendees went out bar-crawling afterward. The rest was strictly business.

The FAA is certainly not the most efficiently run agency in the government, but this ABC story is at least 90% crap.