Defense Department Can't Afford To Buy A Fax Machine To Receive FOIA Requests
from the priorities dept
Apparently the Sequester is hitting the Defense Department so hard that it can't even afford a new fax machine to handle Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Now, you might wonder why a fax machine is needed, but since the US government has generally made it as difficult as possible to file FOIA requests, faxing is often the best way. MuckRock, a service that helps others (including us!) file FOIA requests, has noted that the Defense Department (which it also notes has a $31.8 billion -- with a b -- budget for "maintenance and operations") has a broken fax machine, and can't promise a new one will be set up "until the start of the new fiscal year."
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Filed Under: defense department, dod, fax machine, foia
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Solution: Crowdsource
In fact, if someone lives near these morons just give them the damn thing. Unfortunately we can't replace people with more honest and ethic ones that easily.
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and they did another interesting/funny thing.. they sent a FOIA request requesting the office inventory and the budget... of the of the office processing FOIA requests.
https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/osd-equipment-inventory-and-budget-6733 /
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Re: Solution: Crowdsource
If only there was an outsourcing service for that...
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Re: Re: Solution: Crowdsource
There was one, but it went to India.
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Maybe a witholding of money to a congress that can't seem to get anything done, with very few days actually working per month?
While we're at departments that aren't functioning how about defunding the Fusion Centers, DHS, and the TSA? Now that's forward thinking and budget minding. Think of all the trillions saved with that move.
I am sure there is a closet somewhere in the DoD that has an unused fax machine. This cover up just keeps on smelling till we're at the point that I think Washington was built over a sewage processing plant by the odors.
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Oh, wait. We spend billions on one of those.
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I can feel for their IT department
I remember throwing $600 graphics cards in the trash because we didn't have a budget for shipping them back for repair/replacement, but we DID have a budget for buying new ones.
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Dear MuckRock,
In response to the suggestion that we use an online fax service, we are, unfortunately unable to take this particular action. It is apparrent, due to recent discoveries, that Israeli intelligence agencies have somehow managed to compromise a number of online communications. Because of this unfortunate situation, we are unable to process FOIA requests via online fax services.
Thank you
- The United States Government
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So much BS, and trying to get away with not declassifying the documents.
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Re: Solution: Crowdsource
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then this
"The CIA Is Closing the Office That Declassifies Historical Documents
As a result of the sequester-induced budget cuts, the CIA is closing the Historical Collections Division office, which declassifies historical documents, and transferring the division's responsibilities to the office that handles FOIA requests. "
getting my tin foil hat now...
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I'll buy them one
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-FAX-575-Personal-Phone-Copier/dp/B0007KI6PE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8 &qid=1379368698&sr=8-1&keywords=fax+machine
Just post the address where I should have Amazon ship it.
(I mean it.)
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Re: I can feel for their IT department
What, you never heard of eBay?
Where is your dumpster? :-)
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Re: Re: I can feel for their IT department
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Logical
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Not as ridiculous as it seems
1st: Notice that the email says IF they don't have a spare, they will have to order a replacement. Speaking, as an IT contractor for the Army, they likely have a spare. We have at least "it'll do, for now" if not ready replacement spares for most equipment on site. Even if we just are subbing a lesser used machine in until we can get a replacement.
2nd: October 1st is the beginning of the new fiscal year. I can tell you from personal experience, trying to order something in September that's not already specified on the budget gets assigned the lowest priority. There is a lot of work involved with closing out a fiscal year that has to be done before 1 Oct. This is why we always have spares and/or warranty service (depending on criticality) for everything.
3rd: if the "Fax machine" is not just a fax machine, but a high volume Multifunction Printer (like what we use) it is likely that a replacement will have to be purchased through a bidding process. Our own office has a $3000 limit for such purchases, and I believe this is limit is mandated by law, but I can't be sure. Below the limit, it can be purchased on a Gov credit card. Orders of $3000 or more must be put out for bids. The bidding/award process generally takes 4-6 weeks. This would explain the possibility of November stated in the email.
This is not the result of malice or incompetence. Its a result of the government's efforts to minimize waste, fraud, and abuse.
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You can't just buy a million dollar fax machine anywhere. Budgeted dollars must be spent if you want it again next year.
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-_-"
Where the hell the money gone to?
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Re: Not as ridiculous as it seems
Not sure what they are hoping to accomplish with their snarky article other than to openly mock people within federal agencies who actually work hard and diligently in handling FOIA requests. Seems as if this would be a dumb move if they hope to receive expedited treatment in the future should the need arise.
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Re:
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Re: Re: Not as ridiculous as it seems
The receipt contains the following from number, to number, date, time; number of pages sent the number of page successfully received, and fax quality.
An email provides nothing.
A certified receipt demonstrates the recipient received an envelope.
Frank Vera
GeorgeAFB.Info
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