30 Jan 2024

How to rein in abuse of US federal funds in the Pacific

From , 6:01 am on 30 January 2024
The U.S. House of Representatives has not yet passed appropriations bills to fund the government for the 2024 fiscal year, beginning October 1.  Enough Republican Representatives oppose the resolution that would fund the government temporarily to cause a shutdown. (Photo by Allison Bailey/NurPhoto) (Photo by Allison Bailey / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

The US House of Representatives has not yet passed appropriations bills to fund the government for the 2024 fiscal year, beginning October. Photo: ALLISON BAILEY / AFP

A United States commentator on Pacific issues wants to see greater oversight over US federal programmes in the region.

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Affiliate, Michael Walsh, says there are cases of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement involving federally funded programmes across the US Pacific Homeland.

He says improved scrutiny of this spending required a multi-level structural overhaul headed by a Unified Office of the Inspector General for the Pacific.

Mr Walsh spoke with RNZ Pacific's Don Wiseman who began by asking about the level of corruption surrounding the federal funding.