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B-290005 1 (2002-07-01)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadtug0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 




              Accountability * Integrity * Reliability
       United States General Accounting Office
       Washington, DC 20548


                B-290005




                July 1, 2002
                The Honorable Dan Burton
                Chairman, Committee on
                Government Reform
                House of Representatives

                Subject: Unauthorized Legal Services Contracts Improperly Charged to Resource
                        Management Appropriation

                Dear Mr. Chairman:

                The purpose of this letter is to advise you of contracts for legal services that the Fish
IAV             and Wildlife Service (Service) entered into without authority and that the Service
                improperly charged to its resource management appropriation. During the course of
                GAO's review of the Service's implementation of the endangered species program,'
                we learned that the Service had entered into contracts with a law firm and with an
                attorney for assistance with various personnel issues, labor law matters, and
                allegations of discrimination. As of April 9, 2002, the Service had paid over $155,000
                for these legal services, using funds from its fiscal year 2001 resource management
                appropriation. For the reasons explained below, the Service has no authority to
                acquire legal services, and payments the Service made under the contracts were
                improper. In addition, the Service's resource management appropriation is not
                available for the purchase of legal services. Accordingly, the Service has violated the
                Antideficiency Act and should report the violation to the Congress and the President
                in accordance with the provisions of Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
                Circular A-34, (2000).





                'U.S. General Accounting Office, Endangered Species Program., Information on How
                Funds Are Allocated and WhatActivities Are Being Emphasized, GAO-02-581
                (Washington, D.C.; June 25, 2002).
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