Posted on 03/21/2025 9:30:17 PM PDT by Red Badger
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently exposed a scandal revealing federal employees stealing millions of taxpayer dollars to purchase luxury cars, jewelry, and vacations. The story broke on The Daily Wire on March 19, 2025, and reveals more than a decade of corruption from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), originally established to mediate disputes between unions and businesses, eventually devolved into a haven of unchecked extravagance and nepotism.
Investigations into FMCS corruption date back to the early 2010s during the Obama administration; despite disclosures of lawlessness, significant action never happened due to political inaction and a lack of effective accountability mechanisms. Implicated officials were politically protected or even promoted rather than disciplined. The Democrats opted not to pursue charges or restructure the agency, allowing systemic abuses to persist until President Trump’s administration finally took action.
Occupying an unnecessarily lavish nine-story building on Washington, D.C.’s K Street, the FMCS had only 60 of its 230 employees reporting to the office, with many working remotely long before COVID-19. Managers enjoyed oversized suites with private bathrooms; one manager even converted her bathroom into a smoking lounge. The corruption included the top high-ranking officials exploiting loopholes by classifying themselves on indefinite business trips to Washington and charging taxpayers for everyday living expenses.
Former director George Cohen notoriously used taxpayer-funded accounts to buy champagne, $200 coasters, and artwork painted by his wife. The agency also commissioned elaborate portraits of its leaders, spending thousands. FMCS employees openly disabled safeguards on government-issued credit cards, charging personal luxuries without consequence. One employee leased a BMW, and IT director James Donnen billed the government for his wife’s phone and cable services at multiple residences. Another employee, Dan Funkhouser, spent $18,000 on jewelry and used taxpayer funds for personal storage.
The story resurfaced recently and earned a massive reaction on X. For example, one account said, “BREAKING—It’s been revealed that 60 employees at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) stole millions in taxpayer funds, spending them on BMWs, jewelry, luxury vacations, and personal portraits while listing top staff as on a 6-year business trip to cover rent and meals.”
The American public was rightfully furious, causing several accounts to voice their opinions on the corruption. One X user added, “The more this corruption is revealed, the more I wonder how America survived. It’s way overdue that the officials who robbed the Country & taxpayers become to be made accountable.”
Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, also weighed in on the fraud that plagued the FMCS. Elon added in response to the breaking tweet, “Yeah, this scam has been going on for a long time. Not anymore. @DOGE” Here is a Fox News interview with Musk from March 10, exposing why Democrats do not want waste and fraud turned off; watch here:
VIDEO AT LINK..................
Although previous investigations into FMCS revealed widespread corruption, accountability remained nonexistent. Referrals to the FBI yielded no prosecutions, and some implicated employees even received promotions during the Obama administration. President Trump’s decision to dismantle the FMCS with the help of Elon Musk and DOGE finally addressed this egregious example of federal overreach and waste, closing an agency whose own employees acknowledged its uselessness and excess.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
I saw a 60 Minutes show back in the 1980’s where they showed how the EU bureaucrats lived. It was like described in the article. There was zero accountability as voters in the countries had no says in what the EU bureaucrats did.
I do hope these and the many others go to jail. It looks like an open and shut case against them all.
bttt
If you work for the Federal government and you expect to have privacy in the workplace outside of the bathroom then you’re in the wrong business.
I just realized that I used to be happy every time DOGE uncovered more corruption. Not happy any more because it’s sickening. 100% glad they’re exposing and, hopefully, correcting it, but the extent of the fraud and crime is overwhelming and it makes my blood boil. Difficult to comprehend.
The scam was that they claimed going to work in Washington DC was a business trip. Which meant taxpayers were on the hook for their commute from home and back home...
“...Although previous investigations into FMCS revealed widespread corruption, accountability remained nonexistent. Referrals to the FBI yielded no prosecutions, and some implicated employees even received promotions during the Obama administration...”
Oi vehhh....! 🙄😮
To their own office in Washington. If it was considered a business trip, they could be reimbursed for everything.
Prison
You can't even rely on that. Where I used to work there were adjacent rest rooms with a wall separating them. Someone drilled a peep hole from a stall in the men's room into a stall in the woman's room.
circle back for distribution
ty RB
Until people go to jail, this crap does not stop.
I misspoke...(in other words), I meant to say that a lot of workers seem to expect privacy in the workplace outside of the bathroom. As though what they do in the office during working hours is none of anyone else’s business. If they were working in cubicles, they’d make it their very own. I liked cubicles but some of my entitlement-minded co-workers had to go and spoil it for everyone.
I pay a small monthly fee for my company car. It specifically allows for personal use including vacations.
I don’t abuse the privilege though.
Mark
How did Congress not find these?
bfl
If true, and I hope it is, why aren’t we seeing charges being brought?
Have a little understanding. Think about things before posting.
Unions and corruption??? I’m shocked!
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