First, let me acknowledge the fact that we would not be having this conversation without David Bass’s excellent work.
The USDA is threatening to withhold federal funding from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools if the school board orders an additional audit of the eligibility of students who receive free or reduced price lunches (FRL). The USDA caps FRL audits to three percent of recipients, but CMS school board members argue that a broader audit would reveal widespread fraud in the program.
This is an example of the federal government, in this case the USDA, allowing – no, inviting – taxpayers to defraud the system. The chances of getting caught are slim, and if you do get caught, there are no legal consequences. They just take the money away.
Anyway, I suspect that deep within the confines of the USDA, a bureaucrat has a sign that reads:
No accountability.
No transparency.
No problem!
