Federal Investigation Finds New York Museum Misused $600,000 in Grants With Inflated Time Sheets
A US Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General investigation found the New York State Museum (NYSM) in Albany improperly drew down $597,624 in US Geological Survey grant funds between 2020 and 2022 for the STATEMAP geological mapping program. The late-May report said NYSM officials instructed staff to submit inflated timesheets, charged salaries of two employees who did not work on the grant, and could not account for one federally funded salary, while also failing to meet required one-to-one state matching funds. The report also found NYSM violated grant terms by changing personnel and reallocating field-expense funds to salaries. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York declined to prosecute, and the New York Education Department said it is cooperating and prepared to reimburse unsupported amounts; the museum is also slated for Phase One of a $150 million state investment announced in January by Governor Kathy Hochul and Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa.
From This Briefing
This story was covered in Museums Under Scrutiny, AI Hunts Hidden Loot