Government

A Mind Reader, a Clown, and a $75,000 ‘Team Building’ Exercise: Federal Agency Head Steps Down After Lavish Training Conference

GSA Chief Martha Johnson Resigns Amid Reports of Lavish Spending at 2010 Conference: a Mind Reader, a Clown, and $75,000 on a Team Building Exercise

Martha Johnson, center (Photo: Gerald Martineau for The Washington Post)

Martha Johnson, the head of the federal agency that oversees supplies, transportation and office space for the federal government, has resigned amid reports of lavish spending at a 2010 training conference outside Las Vegas.

What made it so lavish?  To start, the General Services Administration’s (GSA) “training conference” cost the taxpayer around $835,000.  Staged at a luxury hotel, it featured (among other things) a $3,200 mind reader, $6,300 worth of commemorative coin sets, and a $75,000 training exercise where the attendees tried to build a bicycle.  Furthermore, the airfare and lodging for six the “planning trips” for the event cost around $147,000.

The Washington Post reports:

‘When the White House was informed of the Inspector General’s findings we acted quickly to determine who was responsible for such a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars,’ White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew said in a statement to The Washington Post. President Obama ‘was outraged by the excessive spending, questionable dealings with contractors, and disregard for taxpayer dollars,’ Lew said, ‘and called for all those responsible to be held fully accountable.’

[...]

Accounting procedures are being revamped, and there will be more oversight over conference planners and contractors, [GSA spokesman] Mecher said. All employees will be required to take mandatory training in conference planning. Travel budgets for several regional offices have been reduced, and future conferences in the western region, which hosted the Nevada event, were canceled.

Johnson will be replaced by former city administrator for the District of Columbia and assistant secretary in the Treasury Department Dan Tangherlini.

Though many would love to believe that the excessive government waste ends with Martha Johnson’s resignation, this is not the first time taxpayer dollars have been wasted.  The question remains: should you really be in charge of vast federal funds if you need to take “mandatory conference planning” and think a clown is the best way to liven up a professional training conference?

Comments (70)

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  • KingCanon
    Posted on April 3, 2012 at 4:15am

    A clown had to be hired?

    Report Post » KingCanon  
    • Shawnkk
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 11:06am

      Ya, Obama was on vacation.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 11:30am

      Joe Biden couldn’t find his clownshoes in time so they hired someone else. Can you imagine Obama and his Keystone Kops administration right now..”this is an election year..what the heck do I say?..How do I blame the republicans and George Bush with this one? I’m the smartest, bestest, most special president ever…this shouldn’t be happening”.

      Report Post »  
    • AZRACISTBIGOT
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 2:48pm

      I think that one of Barry & Moochelles’s vacation trips probably cost the taxpayers more

      Report Post »  
    • Agnes
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 3:19pm

      The clown and his extended family of cronies were not available at the time. They were on another vacation!

      Report Post »  
    • IronSights
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 6:02pm

      Staff Jack Lew said in a statement to The Washington Post. President Obama ‘was outraged by the excessive spending, questionable dealings with contractors, and disregard for taxpayer dollars,’ Why wasn’t I invited, Obama was quoted as saying as he boarded airforce one on his way to play a round of golf.

      Report Post » IronSights  
    • wandamurline
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 10:14pm

      Sounds like another one of those insignificant departments that not only doesn’t need a supervisor, the entire department needs to be terminated….along with the Department of Education, EPA, Consumer Affairs, and a heck of a lot more.

      Report Post »  
    • junkmaninohio
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:12am

      This proves we are a nation of idiots for putting up with this.

      Report Post »  
  • The Gooch
    Posted on April 3, 2012 at 1:53am

    “A Mind Reader, a Clown, and a $75,000 ‘Team Building’ Exercise…”
    Sounds like the start to a great dirty joke, doesn’t it?
    That’s what she said. Eh, help me out here, folks.
    Sounds like a very special episode of Dr. Phil.
    Coming this summer to a theater near you: “Mind Freaked”

    Report Post »  
    • sasquatch08
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 5:05am

      “A Mind Reader, a Clown, and a $75,000 ‘Team Building’ Exercise…”

      It’s Obama, Biden and a stimulus!

      Report Post »  
  • SpeckledPup
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:57pm

    If we had a son, he’d look like BRIAN TERRY.

    Report Post »  
  • SpeckledPup
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:55pm

    yep, acting totally ”N++++ Rich”, just spend it all all all all because it’s there, that’s what the entire obama presidency has been. divide, ghetto and destroy America. both obamas act like they won the lottery, and it’s called the US Treasury. …. Trillions and trillions of tax payer dollars, well over $15million in US taxpayer dollar funded vacations, and how much of it have they embezzled. plus, his communist agenda to ghetto and murder all of us. what has he paid out to who, plus what else has he offered BESIDES our missile defenses to our enemies. he’s sold out England, Poland and Israel, and we all heard him offering to surrender America after the Nov election.

    .. obama is a rabid animal, time to deal with it appropriately.

    Report Post »  
  • bettyretired
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:52pm

    So when can we expect Michelle‘s resignation as First Lady for recklessly spending taxpayer’s money for her vacations? She needs to set an example worthy of her “office”.

    Report Post »  
    • vehoae
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:36pm

      No. What Mrs. Barak Hussein Obama really needs to do is dress and act like the First Lady of the Republic of the United States of America. Yes, I am, indeed, a baby boomer, so I’m from the era where we expected quality and pride to ooze from the first ladies. Examples? Well, how about Jackie Kennedy, Dolley Madison, Pat Nixon, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, and even Rosalynn Carter.

      I have no doubt that if the wives of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney ever grace the people’s White House, we will once again have a real First Lady. A First Lady who not only knows how to dress and act, but who also loves and respects this country and its taxpayers.

      Lord, come quickly.

      Report Post »  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:55pm

    Doesn’t the broad Martha Johnson in the photo just expel the look of some happy go lucky i am so smart “New age progressive commie” …I really wish I could go do some real reporting on this. And find out how she got the job and what commie in charge gave it to her ….You just know there is a mountain of dirt out there ..This is just a crack into the Obama run Washington commie elite ..The right reporter goes and digs into the truth of this type of crap and what money the Obama czars have spent the past three years.. Probably would make one great story…Rather the commie will bury this as fast as they can and move her onto the Van Jones payroll…

    Report Post » Thevoice  
    • MatrixRedPill
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 3:40am

      There are wasteful spending every where in the gov., and she is “replaced”. That means Obama needs to put his own people in that position, to control that department.

      Report Post »  
  • John WIS.
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:54pm

    Gee……………the “President” was “angry” about this waste of spending.

    Wow.

    I guess the rest of us can sleep tonight knowing that the “President” did something about it.

    Report Post »  
    • 1proud_Texan
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:08pm

      Too bad the president didn’t get angry when people died! He should be ashamed that two of our border agents were murdered because of the incompetence in his administration. Although this guy has no soul.

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:47pm

      Not only that, he is penny wise and dollar STUPID; if we hold the belief that he is simply incompetent.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • FreedomPurveyor
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:33pm

    No wait, I have an idea. Let’s keep this stuff and just cut defense spending, cause, you know, these are tiny countries, compared to the Soviet Union

    Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
  • Justthefactsmam
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:29pm

    When is he going to be “outraged” at the cost and frequency of his families vacations??

    Report Post » Justthefactsmam  
  • TexBork
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:10pm

    Well, progressives, more so democrat, but some republican as well say spending is the answer! Always. Especially when the question is, “How do we reduce our deficet, reinforce the dollar, and pay back our loans?” We are told to somehow believe that by mutliplying our debt, will reduce it and that devaluing and destroying the dollar makes it stronger. It won’t. It just hurts the nation.

    Report Post » TexBork  
  • zoro51
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:52pm

    waste personified DUMP THE DOJ DUMP OBAMA IMPEACH NOW

    Report Post » zoro51  
    • Texasexpat
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 5:00am

      If only that would happen! Now THAT would be a good day’s work!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:46pm

    What ever happened to a grey desk in a monochrome office?

    Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:49pm

      OH!
      That is Sooo 1960′s military!
      I am outraged!
      We must be in style!

      (sarc off)

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • cabomark
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:45pm

    There was a phrase I heard growing up “N****** Rich”, and yes that New York “Fly By” of Airforce 1
    got burried in our so called press. Ever wonder you was on that afternoon cruise? How about the President and Michelle out for a test run of their new diggs.They have not stop spending since and they will not. Michelle will go wherever she want’s and serve her bundlers meals that would make a king jealous. Obama has been campaigning for two years now dragging our secret service and giant motercaides on our dime with him and Carney deflects it all claiming it was not a fundraiser tour!!!!
    Govt. run Healthcare sure ask all the Post Office employees who should be laid off to pitch in, hey double Govt. pensions.Why not, Obama challenging the Supreme Court made me sick today.

    Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:30pm

    even the whitehouse was informed? oh really so he and his family‘s vacations wouldn’t seem so bad after this. oh please this is nothing compared to what the fed agencies do on a regular basis. seen it with my own eyes flown on the government dime myself for awards ceremonies etc. the fed gov hasn’t gotten with the times and figured out there is a fancy new invention called conference call. they would just rather pay for lodging and airfare for everyone to attend oh and comp meals etc. I have done it and they spare no expense. it is just ridiculous.

    Report Post »  
  • Chris
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:26pm

    I‘ve worked for the federal government for a long time and I’m always amazed to see somebody do something like this and apparently think that it is a good idea. I do have to say that when you see this it almost always involves some upper level of management. I can’t imagine trying to pitch and idea like this to my management, particularly with a price tag like this. The main way that things like this happen is when the people that should be saying “no! that’s a huge waste of money” are the ones coming up with the idea n the first place.

    Report Post »  
  • Hobo Gator
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:22pm

    But we know best for you. You are too bust paying taxes to think for yourself, we will fill that void with good decision in your best interest. Oh, here’s a coin. Have a nice day.

    Report Post »  
  • Sirfoldallot
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:17pm

    Can u read my mind now ? —– —– How about now —-?

    Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
  • doomytram
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:04pm

    Can you say Ba-Friggen-Na-Na Republic? Ha.Ha.Ha…team building? The Government doesn’t make or sell anything. This is a fact, every single Federal Government endeavor has failed or is failing. Every agency is bankrupted and none are successful. From A to Z every the the Federal Gov‘t touches it breaks down and sucks the life out of it’s bureaurats. Oblamer wants to pay unemployed GED grads about 169K / year to come work for this broke down 900 trillion lb. gorilla behemoth of waste.

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • sooner12
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:51pm

    “Obama was outraged…..” What about his and Moochelle’s vacations

    “Accounting procedures are being revamped, and there will be more oversight over conference planners and contractors, [GSA spokesman] Mecher said. All employees will be required to take mandatory training in conference planning. Travel budgets for several regional offices have been reduced, and future conferences in the western region, which hosted the Nevada event, were canceled.”…………………………………LMAO All this over a person not being a good steward of the gov‘t’s money in 2010. How much money will be spent in meetings in coming up with new rules and guidelines, printing up the vulinmous said rules and guidelines and then the nationwide training at various glamorous hotels and sites like the Bahamas to go over said rules and guidelines. When all is said and done, the costs associated for retraining will far exceed the cost original offense of $231K which started this whole mess..

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:46pm

    This government is like the pimp and we‘re the ho’s getting slapped around all the time,they take our money and use it against our interests,bunch of candyass pigs that need to be made aware who’s the boss.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:51pm

      ok………….how much have we got ot pay her for the rest of her life ??????????????????????????????????

      Report Post »  
    • Shasta
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:53pm

      And yet the latest polls are showing Obummer doing better than ever. These guys are taking our country down, and over half of the country thinks it is great. When most of us are taking freebies, who will pay their entitlements? If they get their way, there will be no coming back in this generation.

      Report Post » Shasta  
    • johnpaulkuchtajr
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:56pm

      Even if the Ayatollah Obama is defeated in November, how long would it take to weed-out the legion

      of “gubbamint” workers who have no idea of what it takes to make the tax money that they spend

      so freely? Would a purge of the top 20% of every federal agency do the trick? If so, that’s what the

      incoming administration needs to do!

      Report Post »  
  • kevin542
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:45pm

    WOW imagine that Obama was outraged….does any one else see the humor here….or maybe the double standard thingy…

    Report Post » kevin542  
  • TRONRADIO
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:31pm

    So the new fed head will perhaps indulge his minions with a tarot card reader, a magician, and a 50K team building exercise. A little less exercise; but it is a recession, right?

    Report Post »  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:30pm

    If only O was as outraged over his own over the top spending, I could almost be made to believe he really gave a flip….nevermind, I couldn’t believe it no matter what – just realized the source WAPO

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:27pm

    Sounds like a set up to a bad joke, too bad the joke is on us, the Taxpayer.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:26pm

    Isn’t that about the amount Obammy spends when him and the silver back take a vacation?????????

    Report Post »  
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