Still More Examples of Government Waste
Here is the final installment of examples gleaned from an article by Brian M. Riedl for The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org.
Federal student loan programs are eating up funds because of poor management. Government auditors found that $21.8 billion worth of student loans are in default, and too many cases of fraud go undetected. For example, in 2002 the Department of Education approved the application to certify the student loan participation of the Y'Hica Institute in London, England. The Department of Education then approved loan applications from three Y'Hica students for $55,000. The problem was that neither the Y'Hica Institute nor the three students who received the $55,000 existed. All the applications were faked by congressional investigators who were testing the Department of Education's verification procedures. There is no way of telling how many cases of real fraud have gone undetected.
Government's tendency to layer new programs on top of old ones inherently creats duplication. Having several agencies perform similar duties is wasteful and confuses program beneficiaries who must navigate each program's distinct rules and requirements. Here are some examples of duplication: 342 economic development programs; 130 programs serving the disabled; 130 programs serving at risk youth; 90 early childhood development programs; 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities; 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water; 50 homeless assistance programs; 45 federal agencies conducting federal criminal investigations; 40 seperate employment and training programs; and the list goes on and on.
Don't you think it's time that the government was held accountable for wasting our resources? There are solutions, but it isn't likely the career politicians will even consider them. Maybe the answers are in my novel, An Eagle Unchained. Let me know what you think.
Federal student loan programs are eating up funds because of poor management. Government auditors found that $21.8 billion worth of student loans are in default, and too many cases of fraud go undetected. For example, in 2002 the Department of Education approved the application to certify the student loan participation of the Y'Hica Institute in London, England. The Department of Education then approved loan applications from three Y'Hica students for $55,000. The problem was that neither the Y'Hica Institute nor the three students who received the $55,000 existed. All the applications were faked by congressional investigators who were testing the Department of Education's verification procedures. There is no way of telling how many cases of real fraud have gone undetected.
Government's tendency to layer new programs on top of old ones inherently creats duplication. Having several agencies perform similar duties is wasteful and confuses program beneficiaries who must navigate each program's distinct rules and requirements. Here are some examples of duplication: 342 economic development programs; 130 programs serving the disabled; 130 programs serving at risk youth; 90 early childhood development programs; 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities; 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water; 50 homeless assistance programs; 45 federal agencies conducting federal criminal investigations; 40 seperate employment and training programs; and the list goes on and on.
Don't you think it's time that the government was held accountable for wasting our resources? There are solutions, but it isn't likely the career politicians will even consider them. Maybe the answers are in my novel, An Eagle Unchained. Let me know what you think.
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