Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Trending News

$619 Billion Missing: U.S. Government Transparency Website Lost Billions To 302 Fed Programs, How?

Travelers Today       By    Althea Serad

Updated: Aug 07, 2014 12:27 AM EDT

Text Size: A A A

$619 billion missing from U.S. government website which is supposedly aimed at making government spending more transparent was recently reported. The $619 billion missing is causing quite a stir in the recent news reports and has caused concern for many.

According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, the federal website USAspending.gov, where the $619 billion missing was reported of, was intended to provide transparency about how the tax dollars of American citizens are being spent. However, it appears that the public information is inaccurate.

According to USA Today, the website was found to have at least $619 billion missing from 302 federal programs, as reported by the GAO.

In 2007, the federal website which was found with the $619 billion missing, was launched under the Obama administration. It was tasked to record all expenditures made by the U.S. government, providing behind-the-numbers transparency of federal big budget spending, reports The Examiner.

On Aug. 5, USA Today reported that the site cannot reconcile the $619 billion missing from over 300 federal programs, of which includes the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior and even the White House itself.

Meanwhile, it is now known that the bulk of the $619 billion missing was mostly because of the HHS, with over $540 billion. The department however admitted of misreporting their numbers for $5.3 billion in spending on 163 out of its 265 programs.

Although the White House had not reported which programs it was directly responsible for, the audit by the GAO with the $619 billion missing, said that only 2 percent to 7 percent of the information is "fully consistent with agency records," reports USA Today.

CNN reports that The Department of the Interior did not audit the spending of its several programs since their accounting systems weren't compatible with the website.

The White House Office of National Drug Policy told auditors they thought the HHS was the main one responsible for the report on the $619 billion missing.

According to reports, the GAO hence called for the White House Office of Management and Budget to show more mistakes of the website.

OMB spokesman Jamal Brown said in the report, 'Until these weaknesses are addressed, any effort to use the data will be hampered by uncertainties about accuracy.'

He added, 'OMB is committed to federal spending transparency and working with agencies to improve the completeness and accuracy of data submissions.'

In the meantime, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. made comments regarding the $619 billion missing.

He said, 'The administration set a goal of 100 percent accuracy by the end of 2011. Three years later the federal government cannot even break a 10 percent accuracy rate.'

He added, 'This complete failure in spending transparency hurts our ability to assess the pros and cons of how Washington spends tax dollars.'

According to The Examiner, responsibility for the website's maintenance has since fallen into the hands of the Department of the Treasury.

$619 billion missing entire report can be found from the Government Accountability Office here.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
$619 billion missing, U.S. government, U.S. news, obama administration, usaspending, government accountability office
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics