Senator calls for disciplinary action over ASY funding

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Senator calls for disciplinary action over ASY funding
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, January 17, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — A leading Democratic lawmaker has called for disciplinary action for Defense Department personnel involved with the America Supports You program.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday blasting department officials for their "inept, if not corrupt" management of the program.

"There was a substantial waste of government funds, gross lack of oversight, demonstration of questionable ethics, and a total disregard of procedural rules in this case," according to the letter, which was provided to Stars and Stripes by McCaskill’s office.

America Supports You was meant to give publicity to nonprofit groups that help U.S. troops, but the Defense Department Office of the Inspector General recently issued a report that found it was mostly focused on promoting itself.

The report criticized defense officials for "inappropriately" transferring $9.2 million to Stars and Stripes to finance the program. It also faulted Stripes officials for their roles in the money transfers and for being unable to account for $4.1 million intended for America Supports You expenses.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60066