Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) today highlighted the following egregious and unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Science Board (NSB):

Approximately $72,000 for the NSB’s swanky annual black-tie dinner and awards ceremony. $54,523 has already been charged to the taxpayers tab to cover catering and logistics support for the 2015 dinner, which will be held in Washington D.C. on May 7. And if past is prologue, taxpayers can expect the final check to include another $17,000 for venue and security costs.

In response to an inquiry from Flake’s office regarding the funding source for the event, the NSF provided justification for using tax dollars appropriated to the agency for “salaries and expenses” by referencing a 1996 General Accounting Office (now known as the Government Accountability Office) decision on the matter.

“I guess $70,000 buys you out of a presidential stand-up routine,” said Flake.

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