ETHICS/INTERIOR/RYAN ZINKE: “The doors to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s office are getting a nearly $139,000 upgrade.
The Interior Department confirmed the project Thursday [3-8-18], saying it is both necessary to replace old doors that are in ‘disrepair’ and attributing the high cost to the historical nature of the building.
News of the $138,670 contract comes as several agencies are facing scrutiny over excessive spending. Last month, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson withdrew an order for pricey dining room furniture, including a $31,000 table. Zinke is also under fire for questionable travel habits.
Zinke was unaware of the expense for the doors, Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift said, saying the project was driven by ‘career facilities and security officials’ as part of a decade-long modernization of the 1930s building…
The new doors will be made of fiberglass. The previous sets of doors have been damaged for years, according to an Interior official, to the point where wind and water come into the office during inclement weather, which in turn damaged the historic hardwood floors. Damage has caused bottom panels to fall out and be ‘replaced with cardboard and duct tape,’ the official said. The Associated Press previously reported on the door contract Thursday.”
-Sara Ganim, Gregory Wallace, and Sophie Tatum, “Interior Dept. explains $139K doors for secretary’s office,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Mar. 8, 2018 11:51pm