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 will not get into politics because criminal and fraudulent behavior doesn't have a party affiliation. And I'm a lifetime NPS employee so I've seen the good and the bad. BUT what everybody fails to mention is The Douglas Factors. It is a disciplinary matrix EVERY federal employee is measured against when being disciplined. It's why you see the difference between discipline levels between a lower graded, shorter tenured employee and a long-time employee. For the love of God, Google it and spread the word so the perceived disparity is clarified and explained.
This isn't funny. As a former NPS employee, I am disgusted in this favoritism and lack of severe punishment. He should be knocked down to a a GS- 11 and forced to pay restitution with interest. NOT PROMOTED. AND should NOT supervise ANYONE.
Kim: I am familiar with the Douglas Factors, and have seen them unevenly and unfairly applied in disciplinary decisions. In this case, Douglas Factor #1, the "Nature and seriousness of the offense and its relation to the employee's duties, position..."and "...Whether the offense was INTENTIONAL (my emphasis) or technical or inadventent": Caldwell's admission that he knowingly violated travel regulations over a period of several years should be an aggravating circumstance for a higher penalty. Factor #2 "The employee's job level and type of employment, including supervisory or fiduciary role, contacts with the pubic and prominence of the position" also suggests a higher level of discipline. I would base this upon the higher expectation of conduct for a Regional Director, and the example he is expected to set for his employees. Factor #8, "The notoriety of the offense or its impact upon the repuation of the agency" also seems to cry out for a higher penalty. I have seen lover-level employees terminated for far less than what Mr. Caldwell admitted to. Contrary to what you seem to be implying, I argue that higher-graded employees should be held to a higher standard of conduct.
The bottom feeders have control...how do you fight this? The complete lack of conscience in an organization that should be the most ethical, the most upstanding is what is so nauseating.
Gee, how will he survive on a GS-14 wages..poor thing. He should have been fired. The NPS is so corrupt, this puss filled boil or unethical behavior and double standards.
never trusted that little turkey even back during his days as a GS-5 in NCR
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Oh the hypocracy...she didn't have the right friends I guess...https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona/articles/2017-03-07/ex-w...
Exactly!