Another government official was placed on administrative leave on Monday in the continuing controversy over wasteful spending involving a 2010 Las Vegas conference for government workers, the General Services Administration announced. The House oversight panel identified David Foley, a deputy commissioner of the Public Building Service in the GSA, as the official seen in video footage from the conference appearing to make light of congressional oversight. Foley has become the eighth member of the GSA staff who has been fired, placed on leave, or removed from their job due to the public controversy, according to an administration source who spoke under the conditions of anonymity.
The announcement was made by Adam Elkington, a GSA spokesman, and came after an additional video was released on Monday involving the 2010 Western Regions Conference. The video showed government workers mocking a clean energy campaign pushed by President Barack Obama. “These videos reinforce once again the complete lack of judgment exhibited during the 2010 Western Regions Conference. Our agency continues to be appalled by this indefensible behavior, and we are taking every step possible to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” Elkington said on Monday. Hearings on the GSA findings will be held next week. Elkington reported that the GSA welcomes “responsible oversight” and “remains committed to eliminating excessive federal spending and promoting government efficiency.”
