Report: FEMA Spent Millions Fraudulently

Homeland Security Inspector General: Agency Did Not Properly Spend Money From Trailer Sales

(AP)  The Federal Emergency Management Agency misspent millions of dollars it received from selling used travel trailers, government investigators have found.

Instead of buying more trailers - as allowed under the law - FEMA used more than $13 million toward fully loaded sport utility vehicles, travel expenses and purchase card accounts, according to a draft report by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general obtained by The Associated Press. The report is to be released Friday.

During its three-month review last summer, the inspector general found that FEMA used some of the proceeds from trailer sales for tree-removal services, agency decals and banners and global positioning systems. FEMA spokesman James McIntyre said the agency discovered these problems on its own and has taken steps to fix them.

After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA purchased 200,000 travel trailers and mobile homes. When displaced hurricane victims leave these housing units, FEMA may sell the units to the general public. The law states that FEMA must use proceeds from these sales to buy more trailers or return the money to the U.S. Treasury.

"Once again, FEMA has proven to be a poor steward of taxpayer money. In order to regain the public's trust, FEMA must ensure that this type of wasteful spending never occurs again," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House committee that oversees the Homeland Security Department.

In its comments on the report, FEMA said it spent all the money received from the sales to help disaster victims, but the agency agrees with investigators that there needs to be better oversight and control in the future.

"The funds received from the sale of used travel trailers and mobile homes were used specifically for what they were originally obligated for - that is, the proceeds were used for disaster relief and emergency assistance," according to the agency's comments to the draft report. In its comments, FEMA said it will establish a system to track the sale proceeds so that the proper amount of money is returned to the U.S. Treasury.

Since the 2005 hurricanes, Congress and the government have investigated FEMA's spending practices and determined the agency was defrauded, purchased trailers that pose potential health risks and misspent taxpayer dollars. In 2006, a congressional investigation found that purchase cards were used improperly and the Homeland Security Department - FEMA's parent agency - wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on items like iPods, beer-making equipment and designer jackets.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Once again, FEMA has proven to be a poor steward of taxpayer money. In order to regain the public''s trust, FEMA must ensure that this type of wasteful spending never occurs again," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.,"

In order to regain the public''s trust, FEMA''s top brass must spend time in Leavenworth for corruption, their assets seized, and punitive damages awarded to the fund, which should then be distributed to those who were entitled to, but denied benefits.

[payasyougo]

FEMA misspent 13M.
Former renters, freeloaders and bums from LA misspent 1B after Katrina.

Look at the census data from 2000. Most of LA residents were renters.

The Bush administration was coherced by a liberal public to bend over backwards to accommodate the residents of LA in what was clearly a sad situation. And the taxpayers once again pick up the tab of the abusers.

Is it ok that more than half the funds were misused by the public so that the remainder actually did some good? Is that price tag worth it?

I don''t think the rest of the country wants LA rebuilt so it might once again need a country bailout.

[payasyougo]

And take a look at the public auctions of those FEMA trailers. They are disgusting. Absolutely destroyed by the residents. There is no excuse. They repaid kindness with utter abuse and destruction.

A prime example of how a certain segment of America doesn''t deserve any more handouts.

[watcher269-2009]

WAKE UP AMERICA - this administration is "ENRON"ing US!

[hissteps4u]

FEMA Has once again proved itself as a troublesome agency which can not act properly and this is a Management problem.

Fire them all and replace them, sweep the halls clear and start over or scrub the agency and start a different one for they are incapable of ethical behavior.

Worthless and abusive

[skyk-2009]

A prime example of how a certain segment of America doesn''''t deserve any more handouts.

Posted by payasyougo at 01:50 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

EXACTLY what in the wide wide world of sports are you talking about? This isn''t about the poor getting money they need or about victims of a very bad storm being able to use temporary housing you MORON. This is about OUR government totally abusing their charge to oversee OUR money. You have got to be a Bush Cultist, finding excuses and trying to direct blame... IT didn''t work if thats the case.

[alphaa10-2009]

US Rep. Bennie Thompson (D) said, "Once again, FEMA has proven to be a poor steward of taxpayer money..."
---
It''s not only FEMA, Bennie, it''s the whole blinking Bush regime. A Bush culture of corruption and predation, driven by petty criminal greed and partisan gain, has been Bush standard operating procedure since 2001. Bush lied, lied and lied again to persuade people to believe in him, to go along...

By now, it''s utterly clear Bush really doesn''t give a flying elephant which way his posterior is pointed. He has utter contempt for the American people, and wants all his political spoils system appointees to regard our federal government as HIS frat house-- Animal House, if you will-- just as he behaved at Yale.

FEMA, under Bill Clinton, was admired by the states for its readiness and outreach to state emergency agencies. After Bush entered office, however, his appointees made it clear FEMA was dead. One Bush appointee said he regarded FEMA as one more useless bureaucracy and could not wait to start dismantling it. As if on cue, all the professionals who won the agency praise began leaving.

By 2005 and Katrina, FEMA was an empty shell-- no programs to maintain, much less develop federal-state cooperation networks existed. When Katrina hit New Orleans-- unprepared, hopelessly exposed-- Michael Brown asked merely, "Can I go home, now?"

Heckuva job, Bush!

[slim1h2o]

Worthless and abusive

Posted by hissteps4u at 01:55 AM : Feb 20, 2008

I was thinking the same thing.
It''s time to abandon this agency, that has proved to be mired in a quagmire, that it''s no longer capable of its intended mission. Disaster Relief.

FEMA its self is a disaster,,in need of relief.

[gkc99]

FEMA''s managers must be sent to re-education sessions--their performance is below par.

Any Darth Bushit regime cabinet member should be able to steal, embezzle, or lose at least BILLIONS of dollars, not pissant millions only!

The Repugniscum party must be so ashamed!

[marymcq]

This is why no body wants to donate money for anything anymore, these scumbags ruin it for people who really are trying to do good, it makes me sick, Not because of this, but because of this happening in the past, I only give to the Shriner''s, The firemen who are out on the street with their boots, and to the Salvation Army at Christmas time, Thanks losers for losing the trust of the people.

[mcvet]

I was thinking the same thing.
It''''s time to abandon this agency, that has proved to be mired in a quagmire, that it''''s no longer capable of its intended mission. Disaster Relief.

FEMA its self is a disaster,,in need of relief.



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Posted by slim1h2o at 06:41 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Whoa there sparky! Can you give me ONE, just ONE case, prior to that pathetic piece of Human Trash you now call a President came along that FEMA didn''t work? It''s rediculous to want to tear down a very good department BECAUSE a lower than life Southern Nazi couldn''t manage it. There''s NOTHING wrong with FEMA that good management wouldn''t fix.. absolutely NOTHING. The RECORD of FEMA BEFORE that trashy shrub came along is one we should all be proud of. Sieg Heil Bush

[slim1h2o]

Posted by MCVet at 07:40 AM : Feb 20, 2008

Not sure what you are talking about, there Sparky.
I said we need to "replace" those people! nobody said to "tear" anything down!
And ,,yes,,,,our president did muck it up, with incompetent people,,reduced budget,,,etc,,etc.

It didn''t help that we had more natural disasters either. And of course,,,more people are expecting to see FEMA at every type of disater weather it be a house fire,,minor flood,,,, they are not set-up to respond to such "minor" occurances.

Only the big ones ,, that effect our nation, as a whole!

[scottyusa]

Profiteering from a disaster by the very agaency in charge oh my. This is no surprise. Nothing will happen to the individuals responsible for this. Firing them is not good enough they need to see some jail. That won''t happen. FEMA is useless and now corrupt. I say disband the theives and let the state''s national guard handle these things when they are not overseas fighting.

[jjp735i]

And no one will be held responsible once again. No wonder people have such disregard for the government.

[ghostcommand]

Why are we just getting bits and pieces of these frauds that have been occurring since day one of the Bush/Cheney mis-administration?

[ghostcommand]

Why are we just getting bits and pieces of these frauds that have been occurring since day one of the Bush/Cheney mis-administration?

[leftyintexas]

I wonder how much of that money ended up in bush and cheney''s pockets? The scum bags.

[oleander8]

"Once again, FEMA has proven to be a poor steward of taxpayer money. In order to regain the public''s trust, FEMA must ensure that this type of wasteful spending never occurs again," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House committee that oversees the Homeland Security Department. "

Some oversight, Rep.Bennie Thompson - how much did you make from the fraud.

[barbjc1]

Congress has the power to eliminate this agency, why haven''t they done it? And the federal government wonders why it has a BIG deficit. American, throw every Congressman/woman and Senator out and start over.
If Obama, who is part of the IN crowd wins the Democratic nomination, I will write in Ron Paul''s name. None of the top 4 players are able to be trusted. Remember the comment Michele Obama made yesterday, we really need someone like that as First Lady.

[rowdytexan2]

FEMA should be disbanded, and disaster money kept in each state so they can at least rip it off locally.

I bet the trailer house manufacturer has a picture of Bush/Chey on their desk as an icon...

[sgtrds]

This is a surprise to anyone? There is not one corner of this corrupt administration that isn''t criminal. They steal because they know they''ll get away with it because it''s what Bush and Cheney and their crime family is doing too. This is not a presidential administration, it''s a grand theft in progress.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush is slightly upset about the current scandal surrounding FEMA concerning the fraudulent mismangement of funds.

The Great Emperor is not upset with FEMA (since it is run by a loyal neocon Fascist Nazi follower of his), but with the fact that someone had discovered the scam and made the thing public.

The mismangement of the funds also explains why the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the victims of the California wildfires, and the tornado victims of the southwest are still waiting for FEMA to help them out!

Instead FEMA has been helping itself out!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[suzieh2308]

"In 2006, a congressional investigation found that purchase cards were used improperly and the Homeland Security Department - FEMA''s parent agency - wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on items like iPods, beer-making equipment and designer jackets."

This article is pretty ridiculous - I don''t think there is anything that the government or FEMA can ever do to earn back the public''s trust after they show us nothing but imcomptence everytime they are called on to do what they were created for. This is just the icing on the wasteful, embarrassing cake!!

[singingrick]

This is what happens when a President fills important government positions with cronies who''s only real qualification is loyalty to him. Thanks Bushies!

[barbaraf4]

Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to the US (disaster and misery aside). Katrina was the first time I heard public criticism of Bush and his administration. I remember standing in front of the television and calling my husband from the other room to hear what was being said on a newscast. It was wonderful to hear, on public airways, what we had thought and believed from the beginning.

[kaviz]

I say those responsible should be fired, confiscate their assets and force them to live in the trailors.

[inventagod]

The Bu$h administration is one where incompetence is rewarded with promotion, greed is valued and secrecy is prized.
What other outcome would anyone expect?

[maedean]

How about they press crimanal charges against these people and make them pay it all back. How about we quit wasting our tax dollars on useless shiit like fema who helps people outside the US and steals the money from inside the US. To give people a visa with no restrictions on it a stupid move anyway. To never check on fema workers and where they are spending the money was even a worse move. But they sure take our taxes out of our checks every month and good ole IRS makes sure we pay the right amount..

[bm6005]

In order to regain the public''''s trust, FEMA''''s top brass must spend time in Leavenworth for corruption,
Posted by brianbwb

I vote for summary execution as a signal to all. I''msick & F*kin tired of my hard earned taxes being wasted. This is how the Chinese fix this problem!

[bm6005]

I don''''t think the rest of the country wants LA rebuilt so it might once again need a country bailout.
Posted by payasyougo

Why is it OK for the taxpayers to rebuild RICH people''s property on the east coast or along the Mississippi time after time?

[hungry1968]

Another Bush appointed cronie, leading his agency through corruption and collusion, while stealing tax payer money by the bag full.

The republicans should be considered a gang like the hell''s angels, the bloods, or the crypts. Their activities are all equally as complicit.

[bm6005]

They are disgusting. Absolutely destroyed by the residents.....
Posted by payasyougo

Proof please or is this like the proverbial welfare queen story?

[rdscarbrough]

Why have all of you turned this into a Bush-bashing affair? No, the money isn''t in their pockets. And while you are so quick to judge Bush''s character, don''t forget the previous president and his shady character. I mean, don''t forget the lying about the oral *** in the oval office. Even in the private sector, no manager can be completely responsible for every action of every employee. Some will simply be bad. I worked with FEMA while reviewing Katrina claims and many of those employees are your typical federal employee. Government employees compared to employees of ''for-profit'' entities rarely measure up. There is no sense of urgency or productivity. After all, they are not contributing to the bottom line of a corporation. They are simply showing up for work each day and stretching 3 or 4 hours of work into an 8-hour day. That would never pass the sniff test in the private sector.

[hadenufff]

God, will you people grow up! This isn''t a Bush thing or a Cheney thing, it''s a GDam GOVERNMENT thing that has been going on for over 50 years. This is a problem that is inherent with government. They tax us to death then forget whose money it is they are spending. They waste it and throw it at programs that soundn''t even exist. If you want this to stop, support the Fair Tax and abolish that abortion they call the IRS. If you don''t want your tax dollars wasted then speak up about it, but don''t talk like a bunch of children and blame Bush and Cheney. Like I said it''s the whole government that''s at fault.

[hungry1968]

Posted by rdscarbrough at 10:19 AM : Feb 20, 2008



Apparently you didn''t read the article. Start with this:

"Instead of buying more trailers - as allowed under the law - FEMA used more than $13 million toward fully loaded sport utility vehicles, travel expenses and purchase card accounts, according to a draft report by the Homeland Security Department''s inspector general obtained by The Associated Press."

[gkc99]

"I don''''t think there is anything that the government or FEMA can ever do to earn back the public''''s trust after they show us nothing but imcomptence everytime they are called on to do what they were created for. This is just the icing on the wasteful, embarrassing cake!!"--Posted by suzieh2308



It''s not "the government", it''s the administration of George W. Bushit that is corrupt and incompetent!

Bushit is like a guy you take duck hunting in your boat; he blows a hole in the bottom with his shotgun, then says "see, boats don''t work!"

[mcvet]

Hmmm...We''''ve never had a President named Bushit.


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Posted by ilikecats1 at 11:07 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO Right! I wonder how many people who post on here every day DIDN''T know who he was talking about. He was discussing that lowly piece of Human Trash that YOU call a President. Me? He gave up the right to be called that when he stopped representing me after the last election. SO yep.. the poster has it right! Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Why have all of you turned this into a Bush-bashing affair? No, the money isn''''t in their pockets. And while you are so quick to judge Bush''''s character, don''''t forget the previous president and his shady character. I mean, don''''t forget the lying about the oral *** in the oval office. Even in the private sector, no manager can be completely responsible for every action of every employee. Some will simply be bad. I worked with FEMA while reviewing Katrina claims and many of those employees are your typical federal employee. Government employees compared to employees of ''''for-profit'''' entities rarely measure up. There is no sense of urgency or productivity. After all, they are not contributing to the bottom line of a corporation. They are simply showing up for work each day and stretching 3 or 4 hours of work into an 8-hour day. That would never pass the sniff test in the private sector.


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Posted by rdscarbrough at 10:19 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Now listen carefully here! FEMA WORKED under Clinton and CLINTON listened when the PEOPLE spoke. This LOWER than LIFE piece of human trash YOU call a President LIED to us not once but him and HIS administration LIED 935 times. GO look them up, READ them and think about HOW MANY American Families are without a father or son BECAUSE of those LIES. Then get back to me and lets talk about WHY you don''t hate him? SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[mcvet]

I think its spelled "sieg" - there is no "sig" in German greetings.

So it would be correct to say SIEG HEIL walt1944

which translates to "Victory Hail" or "hail to victory".

It is good you are wishing President Bush victory. I thought you did like like him.


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Posted by ilikecats1 at 10:51 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO Now swastika breath YOU have changed your story somewhat from the LAST time you discussed the Sieg Heil! Maybe you aren''t telling the truth?? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!!

[excoachken]

O.K., I''m getting tired of this same type of story, day after day, targeting the Bush Administration as an incompetent and criminal collection of morons. What can''t you run a story with examples of how they have done a good job? Oh, yeah, there aren''t any. Well, then, never mind.

[mcvet]

God, will you people grow up! This isn''''t a Bush thing or a Cheney thing, it''''s a GDam GOVERNMENT thing that has been going on for over 50 years. This is a problem that is inherent with government. They tax us to death then forget whose money it is they are spending. They waste it and throw it at programs that soundn''''t even exist. If you want this to stop, support the Fair Tax and abolish that abortion they call the IRS. If you don''''t want your tax dollars wasted then speak up about it, but don''''t talk like a bunch of children and blame Bush and Cheney. Like I said it''''s the whole government that''''s at fault.


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Posted by HadEnufff at 10:23 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Whoa! Did someone steal you swastika this morning? Now tell us Swastika Breath WHEN did FEMA ever do the things it''s done under LIES-A-LOT under any other PRESIDENT? IF you will check the record it was VERY effective in all the OTHER Administrations. Dealt with all kinds of emerencies and no one even noticed. No IF you were a REAL American you''d respect the wishes of the VAST Majority of us and stop with this fascism. IT''s ugly and it''s stupid. Bush appointed the PEOPLE who conduct fake News Conferences and fail to replace defective trailers. Sieg Heil Bush

[bm6005]

And while you are so quick to judge Bush''''s character, don''''t forget the previous president and his shady character. I mean, don''''t forget the lying about the oral *** in the oval office.....
Posted by rdscarbrough

OMG somebody got a BJ!! Heaven forbid! Praise the lord and pass the ammunition. You ever get a BJ MORON? I know I''ve always turned them down...NOT. Bush has no character on the other hand. He started a war without a basis in fact, He''s run our debt thru the frickin'' ceiling. You bush apologizers are all the same. Impeachment is too good for Bush & Cheney!

[mcvet]

Bush Bashers are like people you take duck hunting in your boat; they blow a hole in the bottom with their shotgun, then they say "see, It''''s Bush''''s fault!"


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Posted by ilikecats1 at 11:12 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO Really? Now FEMA sold TRAILERS and took the money, used it in DIRECT VIOLATION of the LAW, right? Now WHO just put this guy in charge of that AGENCY AFTER he HAD to replace the previous INCOMPETENT? Yep it was BUSH! Now IF he''s NOT at fault exactly who is? It''s got nothing to do with a boat or your childish attempts to divert attention from that INCOMPETENCE, it''s all about this administrations disregard for the law.. plain and simple. Now you can go back to your Nazi Youth Training. Sieg Heil!

[lochlan-2009]

Our government are the criminals now.

How do you stop the corruption so firmly embedded in our government? There is easily a story a day about corruption or fraud going on in our oligarchy. I am simply astounded at the Bush people, with their, "yes sir, may I have another" attitude towards more of the same at the expense of the rest of the country (true 90% of them have been hoodwinked by their church and conservative radio).

[mcvet]

McVet? ** well, i see you American haters are out again---why don''''t you get a job and do something productive?


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Posted by william19491 at 11:21 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Now I know you Swastika Huggers aren''t real smart, how could you be, but since when is a citizens concern for this not being an American? These people took MONEY and used it in DIRECT conflict of the LAW. Now this was AFTER that LIAR you call a President REPLACED these people for conducting FAKE News Conferences, who were the replacements for the INCOMPETENTS who completely screwed up the Storm... Just what part of WE the PEOPLE don''t you understand you Pathetic Nazi? The "Party" is NOT the PEOPLE... Geeeeeeeezzz You freaks are stupid!! Sieg Heil Bush! Come on Swastika Breath, let the little Dictator hear ya!! Let him know a bootlicker is out here!! Ready?? SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!!!

[excoachken]

To ilickcats: Help me out. Just what has Bush done that could warrant anything other than bashing?

[skyk-2009]

To ilickcats: Help me out. Just what has Bush done that could warrant anything other than bashing?


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Posted by exCoachKen at 11:27 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Very good point!

[jersupporter]

MCVet - part of the problem is America has plenty of whiners, but not enough acting for positive change. It is real easy to type away on these message boards, but actually getting up off of your a$$ and doing something is different. I agree that the Bush administration has none plenty of bad for this country, but if you feel that strongly then act. Your consistant griping has worn thin and actually just does the opposite of what your attentions are. If you have exercised your actions, then I applaud you. But this continual whining is pathetic.

[lochlan-2009]

"Bush Bashers are like people you take duck hunting in your boat; they blow a hole in the bottom with their shotgun, then they say "see, It''''s Bush''''s fault!""

Bush supporters are like that moron in the back of class that kept saying, "but why does 1+1=2."

Brown was put in by Bush through the good ol'' boy network.

[skyk-2009]

MCVet - part of the problem is America has plenty of whiners, but not enough acting for positive change. It is real easy to type away on these message boards, but actually getting up off of your a$$ and doing something is different. I agree that the Bush administration has none plenty of bad for this country, but if you feel that strongly then act. Your consistant griping has worn thin and actually just does the opposite of what your attentions are. If you have exercised your actions, then I applaud you. But this continual whining is pathetic.


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Posted by JERSupporter at 11:30 AM : Feb 20, 2008
+ report abuse

I''m sure Sarge would love to be able to do more. The problem is he''s HE CAN''T WALK! You are wrong also about people who come here to communicate. It''s like a giant break room for some of us. It''s a chance for me to get on here and talk to people who have the same disgust for the loser Bush that I do. WE all have to do our jobs or as in MCVets case, get treatments, but we can share our beliefs in what is wrong with this nation. The Republican Party took over a nation with a balanced buget and a surplus. We have borrowed trillions of dollars and have a record deficit. Add that to the mess being discussed here!