A senior National Park Service official investigated for padding his travel expenses by nearly $18,000 reportedly has been transferred to a position overseeing the agency's Park Planning, Facilities and Lands Division, a move that drew quick criticism from union representatives.
Mike Caldwell had been director of the agency's Northeast Region office. Last December an Office of Inspector General report stated that between 2011 and 2015 Mr. Caldwell rented bigger vehicles than he should have to bring friends on some of his travels, covered lodging costs of personal guests, was reimbursed for mileage "that he never drove," rented an SUV for "an official trip two days before his official business was scheduled to start," and also "spent a day driving the SUV 450 miles out of the way for unofficial purposes."
According to an Interior Department document obtained by the American Federation of Government Employees, on June 5 Mr. Caldwell is to take over as chief of staff of the park planning division, a position that has him responsible for coordinating "on key managerial initiatives/projects."
A document passed on to the American Federation of Government Employees states that Mike Caldwell, who was investigated for travel fraud during his role as Northeast Regional Director of the National Park Service, has been moved to another role with the agency.
The move was harshly criticized Monday by Adam Duncan, secretary treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees, Council 270, who represents Park Service employees in the Northeast Region.
"In this position, Mr. Caldwell will presumably have direct influence on high-level decision making and will still travel. Every NPS employee I talk to is outraged on this decision that seems to be very little discipline and disproportionate to what other lower graded employees receive for far less infractions. I myself am representing an employee who is facing disciplinary action over giving out bottles of water to other staff members," Mr. Duncan said in an email to the Traveler.
"The National Park Service has a long history of shuffling around high-ranking officials who have been subject to major disciplinary action while lower subordinates face much harsher disciplinary actions for much less severe actions," he added. "It is reprehensible that high-ranking officials are moved to other positions where they can continue to mess up all while NPS morale suffers. Employees want honest, accountable leadership. Unfortunately, those leaders are very few and far between in the NPS."
According to the OIG report, Mr. Caldwell, desiring "nicer" experiences on his travels as regional director, ran up nearly $11,500 in personal travel that he billed the Park Service for, and also collected nearly $6,000 in pay and per diem on some of these travels while not working.
"Caldwell admitted during his interviews that he had taken these trips and that he had knowingly violated federal travel regulations," the report released in December stated. "He said that in doing so he had taken advantage of his official positions, first as a GS-15 deputy regional director and then as a member of the Senior Executive Service. He said he deserved, at minimum, a suspension."
The case report didn't indicate whether Mr. Caldwell made restitution. But in the seven-page report he was very forthcoming in admitting to the allegations made against him, stating that his travel vouchers had been "tainted and fraudulent.”
National Park Service officials in Washington were preparing a comment Monday.
Comments
I find it shameful that people would make assumptions about a political leader that never had the chance to address these issues. Clinton was a lifelong public servant that gave up a law practice and many years of her life to benefiting all of us. To drag her through the mud like this, even after she was defeated is shameful, and you should feel bad for doing it. This is the problem with too many people. Now that the Republicans are in power, they need to put their words to actions. So far they have not.
Amen Bill. Well said.
"lifelong public servant" LOL
Oh the sacrifices she made:
http://fortune.com/2016/02/15/hillary-clinton-net-worth-finances/
At least Trump mad his fortune before entering public service, not off the backs of the public. She ran an overwhelmingly corrupt organization, what makes you think she would in anyway address "these issues"?
It's Trump for Another Firing. He does not like Dishonest people. He does not like People who he can't trust. Is michael Caldwell Next ?
The man is a thief who stole thousands of dollars from the National Park Service. There is no excuse for his actions. He should have been fired immediately and made to pay back every cent he stole. Instead he is given a transfer and and new job. What does this say to our employees. What type of example is the National Park Service setting with the Caldwell case. I guess the meaning of all this is that if you are high enough in the organization with powerfull friends you can steal and break the law with impunity and expect nothing more than a transfer to another job. Talk about draining the swamp. The National Park Service has its own swamp and I do not see any effort to correct this situation. The swamp lives.
Too bad. I was hopeful that this was someone assigned that would clean up this mess. The position did not exist before- it was created for him. All you have to do is scan the employee satisafction survey to see that the problem with morale is always the same- management, management, management. You will only be fired from the NPS if you're ethical and refuse to break the law or report fraud, waste and abuse. I've never seen such a collection of like minded individuals engaged in damaging groupthink. It's only obvious to those of us who really do think for ourselves, rather than repeat the political mantra. If you dare to offer another viewpoint, there will be retaliation and you'll be ostracized. Common sense or morality plays no role in this organization. What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over with the same negative results. The public loves the parks, and in return, we cheat them and don't do our jobs. What a shame.
This golden transfer within upper NPS management is not surprising to me, since a 'mere' $18,000 was involved. Former Mount Rainier superintendent Uberuaga was promoted to Grand Canyon after accepting a six-figure bribe from a concessioner he managed. I think there are probably ten other instances of corruption in the NPS for every one that is publicized. Protecting the National Park Service seems a much higher management priority than protecting the National Parks themselves.
As a past whistleblower who lost his job, reputation, and financial solvency to NPS retaliation, TLF's comment hits the nail exactly on the head for me. The 'groupthink' he mentions will likely only get worse with the current administration's suspension of the few existing citizen advisory groups, which every NPS unit should have.
I can relate to tahoma's comment, having myself voluntarily left the NPS for another agency well before retirement, and then having a fulfilling career. While working for the NPS, I observed managerial misconduct that one would normally associate with a criminal organization. I endured retaliation after truthfully testifying in a supposedly confidential internal investigation. There are a large number of ex-NPS employees who have taken their skills elsewhere because of managerial corruption and dysfunction. For anybody with any doubt, I suggest a google search of the NPS' standing in the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" annual survey.
Retired NPS Criminal Investigator Paul Berkowitz's new book, "Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia", is now out. Berkowitz was the author of "The Case of the Indian Trader". Having worked with several of the NPS managers who were featured in the latter book, I can vouch for many of his allegations. The NPS retains its ability to attract dedicated and talented employees, but corrupt management practices prompt many of these to leave, and others to practice career survival skills in what should be the best agency to work for in the government. For those who will criticize Mr. Berkowitz (and myself) for excessive negativity, I suggest reading his books with an open mind and try to dispute his well-researched facts.