I do realize FY12 ends September 30th there is a mad dash in all areas of government to spend unused monies. More ammo being bought up by (DOC) Department of Commerce, (NOAA) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency/Western Aquisition Division. It is mind blowing how much ammo is being bought by different divisions across the US.
I also realize that most federal agencies have some type of special agent, including the following:
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Commerce (USDOC)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Office of Export Enforcement (OEE)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI)
Department of Education (ED)
United States Department of Labor (DOL-OIG)
Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations
United States Office of Personnel Management
Federal Investigative Services Division (OPM-FISD)
Department of State
U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) (FS-2501)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Department of the Treasury
IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID)
United States Mint Police
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)
Postal Service (USPS)
United States Postal Inspection Service (USPISnot an Inspector General)
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
All 64 federal Offices of Inspector General (OIG)
Many of these little pockets of specialized law enforcement could be wrapped into the FBI who has the authority to enforce all federal laws.
As pointed out at another forum:
However, as will all federal agencies the quest for influence and ever increasing budgets and "turf wars" result in much more redundancy than is needed. The Director of NOAA doesnt want to ask for someone to enforce his will he wants to have his own agents that he can hire and fire if they don't play ball. Its really as simple as that. This gives him power and more authority and more management positions for his buddies and so forth. However, its part of the huge burden we enjoy as taxpayers.
All these government employees are power hungry. Been there, seen it, and (hides in shame) done it actually. Its the end game of many years of Empire building.NOAA does have a weather division but also one that enforces fishery laws like lobster quotas and import tags on fish and seafood. Totally useless IMO since the function could be better performed by local fish and wildlife regarding illegal taking out of season etc. or by customs for import issues.
Way too many law enforcement agencies out there - the FBI in theory could handle all of the federal law from the EPA to the FDA assign an agent to the technical experts in the field and when comes time for an arrest you have someone there who can do it. They do a short tour there learn a new area then move on much like Soldiers do throughout their careers. Then when they become a SAIC they have a broad background in federal law enforcement. As I said earlier in this thread I think the problem or reason we have all these little agencies and pockets of law enforcement if primarily the ego and turf wars that run rampant throughout the halls of the government service. At one point presumably the Director of NOAA had to ask someone else for assistance in enforcement and didnt like having to sell his position rather than just ordering things done so he lobbied and won more money, authority and people to expand his little empire.
After that no subsequent appointee to the position will ever lobby for less of anything, people, money or control than they already have
At no point is any director, leader or project manager in the government going to advocate for a decrease in his own budget or sphere of influence. Imagine going to your boss and saying well, I have too much, authority, responsibility and money and we could reduce the size of the organization to save the taxpayers some money. Hed last about 6 minutes there is never a reward for the truth in the government service. Loyalty is however, rewarded very well.
No government employee is going to get promoted for overseeing a decrease in spending even if that is a good thing. They are rewarded with larger spheres of influence and larger budgets for increasing their services not reducing them.
A government bureaucrat is a poor steward of the public trust as his/her livelihood and promotion potential are linked directly to increasing sphere of influence his organization has the more influence the more budget the bigger budget the more people, the more people the more mangers, the more managers the more the director can influence the political agenda.