It's Only Money

ATF Director Caused $19 Million in Cost Overruns

By Matthew Dailey

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was found to have $19 million in cost overruns that stem from Director Carl J. Truscott changes and upgrades to the new ATF headquarters. The Justice Department inspector general's office is investigating the cost overruns along with a Senate subcommittee, the Washington Post reported.

After the Justice Department inspector general's office was made aware of the budget overruns, Truscott quickly canceled some of the upgrades that he planned for the new headquarters, according to the Washington Post.

$300,000 of the proposed upgrades at the new headquarters were for Truscott's new director suite that included a $65,000 conference table and more than $100,000 for hardwood floors, custom trim, and other items.

Anonymous sources told the Washington Post that Truscott devoted an inordinate amount of time to the new headquarters construction project. He has held occasional meetings that covered the project's smallest details, such as paint colors and soap dishes. One anonymous source said Truscott incurred an additional project cost by changing a floor tile order in one area of the new building because the original design "made him dizzy."

The ATF director has also come under criticism for what some say is an excessive security detail. Truscott uses five full-time agents and two armored Chevrolet Suburbans, at the yearly cost of $1 million. This large security detail was not employed by previous ATF directors, the Washington Post reported.

Because of the cost overruns, many critics say, the ATF will likely have to cut back on basic operational needs such as buying replacement bulletproof vests and new vehicles.

Some ATF officials stated that many of the cost overruns could have been avoided and should have been foreseen ahead of time by Truscott. He hired an additional 500 employees over the objections of subordinates, despite not having sufficient work space for them.