WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The chairman of the federal board overseeing $862 billion in stimulus spending said the government lacked the personnel to hand out the funding.
Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board Chairman Earl Devaney said, "it's a wake up call," concerning the 144 percent increase in funds for government contracts comparing 2001 to 2008 that was concurrent with a 12 percent rise in contracting staff, USA Today reported Wednesday.
At various government departments, including the Energy Department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and others, grant funding is failing to make it out the door, because staff is not available to review and approve contracts.
Inspector General Gregory Friedman said the Energy Department had trouble finding staff members due to a run on the market. "Hiring new staff proved difficult, as government-wide demand for personnel such as contract specialists and project officers increased largely due to the Recovery Act," he said.
Energy Department Deputy Inspector General Rick Hass said the problem spread to state capitals, as well.
"Some of the states we went to early on, we couldn't schedule visits because their folks were on furlough."
"Even though the federal money was flowing, there was no one there to manage it," he said.
