The AP broke the news yesterday that the Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office) is investigating NASA spending practices, with a focus on outgoing administrator Sean O’Keefe. According to four current or former NASA officials who spoke with AP reporter Adam Nossiter, the GAO is looking at O’Keefe’s use of a government jet rather than less-expensive commercial airlines for much of his travel, as well as his use of off-site retreats. Upon hearing of the report, O’Keefe and his new employer, LSU, went on the offensive: the Houston Chronicle, Florida Today, and the Orlando Sentinel all report that O’Keefe said he was unaware of any such GAO investigation, and denied that he had done anything other than follow government regulations.
From here, it’s impossible to say whether these allegations have any merit: that is, after all, why the GAO is investigating. The timing of this report is particularly curious, coming as it does as O’Keefe is getting ready to start his new job next week as LSU chancellor. (Also note that the AP article carries a Baton Rouge, not Washington, dateline.) Conspiracy-minded folks might wonder if this is an attempt to embarrass O’Keefe—or worse—by someone less than enthused by O’Keefe’s selection as new chancellor…
This is typical of an imperial administration. In order to carry out his duty to citizens of the empire no expense be spared. He has important work to do!