FederalDaily - July 7, 2006

FOIA Processing Report Raises Questions

Reports compiled by several of open-government advocacy interest groups indicate the federal agencies are struggling to meet Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guidelines. The Coalition of Journalists for Open Government reviewed internal assessments from 13 cabinet-level departments and nine other agencies and found that FOIA request backlogs increased. For fiscal year 2005, the backlog of requests grew to 31 percent, up from 20 percent the previous year, according to CJOG. “Agencies also said ‘no’ more often—and spent more to do so,” CJOG’s report said. Patrice McDermott, director for OpenTheGovernment.org, added, “It is surprising how many of the improvement areas were not addressed or rated as poorly addressed.”

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Senator Wants Answers on USCIS Corruption

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, demanded answers about continuing internal corruption at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a July 5 letter to the agency. The senator first turned his attention to possible corruption within the agency last year, when he received information from a former USCIS internal affairs employee. Grassley was particularly concerned with the recent media attention surrounding the arrest of Robert Schofield, a USCIS supervisor. Schofield had been demoted for “unbecoming conduct” and an “inappropriate relationship” with a person under investigation. In addition, Schofield racked up $36,000 in unauthorized charges on a government credit card, yet maintained a supervisory role in the agency. “How is it possible a man with this history was in a supervisory position in your organization?” Grassley asked in the letter. Grassley requested a meeting with USCIS staff to discuss the agency’s corruption problems.

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Army Corps of Engineers Settles with OSC

The Army Corps of Engineers agreed to rehire a former employee and pay a lump sum for lost wages to comply with Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) requirements, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said June 30. According to OSC, Army Corps employee Russell Jones received orders from the Air Force to report for active duty. After being honorably discharged, Jones attempted to resume his old job, but the Army Corps refused, saying his request was untimely. Jones eventually went to OSC for help. OSC successfully argued that the Army Corps had violated USERRA, which protects civilian employment rights for those in military service. The Merit Systems Protection Board approved the settlement, which reinstates Jones and provides him with lost wages, benefits, leave and within-grade increases.

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