Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on a review from the NASA inspector general examining allegations of improper leasing of a hangar and aircraft fuel purchases between NASA's Ames Research Center and H211, a private company that manages aircraft owned or leased by Google executives. Grassley has looked into the arrangement amid allegations of poor management by the government to taxpayers' detriment.
"I'm glad the NASA inspector general was able to clear up some of the questions surrounding NASA and Google. I also have asked the Defense Department inspector general to take a broader look at these fuel contracts. Given that a 'misunderstanding' between NASA and the Defense Department led to taxpayers' losing out on $3.3 million to $5.3 million in this one contract, a look at these arrangements as a whole is definitely warranted. The inspector general recommends that NASA explore 'remedies.' The obvious remedy would be for NASA to seek repayment to the taxpayers for the fuel benefit. If NASA fails to pursue this option and make taxpayers whole, it's hard to imagine how NASA would justify such a corporate giveaway."
The inspector general review is available here.
