The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) spent $31,000 on a new dining set for Secretary Ben Carson’s office suite, the New York Times and CNN reported late Tuesday, citing federal records.
The revelation follows a Tuesday morning report with a HUD official alleging that she was demoted when she pushed back on a request to spend more than the allotted $5,000 on redecorating Carson’s office.
HUD spokesman Raffi Williams told the New York Times that Carson was not previously aware that the dining room set had been purchased, but that the secretary thinks that the cost was not unreasonable and does not plan to return it. Williams also said that the decision to purchase the new set was made by a career HUD official.
A department official told CNN that the table was replaced because it was in a state of disrepair and has been in the secretary’s office suite since the 1960s.
HUD did not ask for Congress approval for the purchase exceeding $5,000. Williams said that the department did not do so because the dining set served a “building-wide need.”
There are circuit court judges whose office redecorating expenses on the gov’t tab would make you puke. Others don’t spend a dime.
Good to see the swamp is being drained… /s
Seems to me the critters that have come in with TwoScoops are worse than the old denizens.
Is he running a restaurant out of HUD ? Why can’t he eat in the canteen ?
It must be lovely. Such an adorable location to dine on a boxed lunch from home or a pizza order. Will knock offs be sold on QVC? Come on, Ben, we should see what we paid for.
Damn! $31K for a dinning set?!?!? Does it make food too??!! This maneuver should see the Carsons ousted from the administration.