Phillip Swarts

‘Redundant’ spending claim on autism research stirs outrage

A Capitol Hill hearing about autism research Tuesday quickly broadened into a larger debate on government spending as the top Democrat said federal investigators' report that research funding may have been redundant and wasteful was "almost insidious." Published May 20, 2014

VA center in Ala. understaffed for podiatrists: IG

A Veterans Affairs center in Alabama got off on the wrong foot with veterans by not having enough podiatrists on duty to cover patients' needs, a review by the department's inspector general found. Published May 19, 2014

Golden Hammer: Sole-source watches save agency time, not money

Near the end of March, the Pentagon's Defense Logistics Agency put in an order for 1,656 wristwatches from electronics manufacturer Casio. But taxpayers won't know how much they cost, with one line on the order form suggesting the price was below $650,000, while another line indicating the price could have been as high as $12.5 million. Published May 15, 2014

Afghanistan corruption still severe problem, U.S. watchdog says

The U.S. government isn't doing enough to fight corruption in Afghanistan, the top American watchdog for the country said Wednesday, raising the concern that much of the effort and the $103 billion that has been given to rebuild the war-torn nation is being lost to graft. Published May 14, 2014

Sallie Mae agrees to $60M settlement for overcharging troops on loans

Student loan giant Sallie Mae reached a $60 million settlement with the federal government Tuesday after the company charged members of the military excessively high interest rates for college and other educational loans. Published May 13, 2014

Package delivery could be casualty of postal woes

Door-to-door deliveries for packages could become a thing of the past as the U.S. Postal Service looks for ways to cut costs — even as officials concede they don't know if the cost etimates they are using are reliable. Published May 13, 2014

Fat-cat fliers: Bipartisan group of lawmakers wants Congress to stop flying first-class

A bipartisan group of Congressmen introduced a bill Monday that would stop costly first-class flights by lawmakers at taxpayer expense and force representatives and senators to fly coach. Published May 12, 2014

Despite climate pledge, feds don’t know how much fuel their own vehicles waste

President Obama has championed fuel efficiency in cars as a way to save money and reduce pollution. But a report shows that the government isn't practicing what it preaches, leaving some federal agencies not knowing exactly how much they are spending on gas. Published May 8, 2014

Billions of dollars in repair work left to do at VA, watchdog says

Vets aren't the only ones facing a daunting backlog at the Veterans Affairs Department. The agency's maintenance plans are also behind schedule and over budget according to an internal report released Wednesday. Published May 7, 2014

End of the road for Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Grand Caravan passed away Tuesday, surrounded by loved ones. It will be remembered fondly for countless trips to and from soccer games and ballet lessons, for weekend errands, long car rides to Grandma's house, and the mysterious sticky substance and stale Cheerios lodged behind the strapped-in booster seats. Published May 6, 2014

Watchdog to investigate accusations of EPA wrongdoing in Alaska

The Environmental Protection Agency's internal watchdog, the Inspector General, announced Monday that it will investigate the agency's actions surrounding a controversial proposed mining facility in Alaska. Published May 5, 2014

EPA employee-pay program scrutinized in response to fake spy

The Environmental Protection Agency is reevaluating its retention pay program after a former employee, John Beale, received thousands of dollars in salary while doing little work because he claimed to be a spy. Published May 5, 2014

Stolen valor: Man facing 15 years for lying about military wounds

A South Carolina man is facing a maximum of 15 years in jail after he pled guilty to lying about his military wounds and obtained benefits meant for wounded veterans. Published May 5, 2014

D.C. to get museum for diplomatic history

D.C. is getting a new museum: The proposed United States Diplomacy Center, just a few blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro station, will serve as a new entrance to the State Department and showcase the history, challenges and results of U.S. diplomacy worldwide. Published May 2, 2014

Golden Hammer: Job Corps used debit cards for clothes, phones, not travel

Since 1964, the Job Corps has spent millions of dollars providing education and vocational training to the nation's youth. And since 2011, federal employees and the students they're training have been using that money to pay for cellphone bills, trips to the hairdressers, clothing, electronics and other personal expenses. Published May 1, 2014

EXCLUSIVE: Memos show EPA officials tried to kill mine project before scientific review

Though President Obama has repeatedly urged that science guide environmental decisions, regulators inside the Environmental Protection Agency secretly worked with tribal and environmental activists to preempt a full review of an Alaskan mine and veto the project before the owners' permits could be considered, internal memos show. Published April 30, 2014

Retirements could leave Postal Service with gaps in leadership, watchdog warns

The Postal Service could soon be facing a serious labor shortage as nearly half of all executives and leaders are eligible for retirement in the next three years, a new report shows. Published April 28, 2014

Golden Hammer: Troubled VA project behind schedule, over budget

On the heels of reports that negligence at the Veterans Affairs Department may have had fatal consequences for ailing veterans, the department is facing new headaches on another front — construction. Published April 24, 2014

Post office may have sold off valuable art, properties

Facing financial troubles, the United States Postal Service has begun selling a number of its post offices and other properties around the nation, including recognized historic buildings. But the mail delivery service isn’t tracking much information, a report by the agency’s inspector general found. Published April 23, 2014

Sebelius pressured major corporations to support Obamacare

Outgoing Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius lobbied several private companies to support Obamacare while the program was struggling to sign up enrollees, a new investigative report found. Published April 21, 2014