Over and Doan With

On Tuesday, it was reported that Lurita Doan, embattled head of the General Services Administration, was forced to resign by the White House. She made the announcement to colleagues in an e-mail. The GSA issued a press release the next day.

Doan was appointed GSA Administrator in May 2006 and almost immediately began attracting controversy. She landed on POGO's radar within a matter of weeks with a high-ranking agency appointment that reeked of cronyism. Months later, we learned of her dislike for inspectors general, whom she reportedly compared to terrorists.

Things really started going downhill for Doan in 2007 with allegations of procurement improprieties and an Office of Special Counsel determination that she violated the Hatch Act by improperly using GSA resources to help elect Republicans. Doan's March 2007 appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee bordered on the absurd, with repeated claims of having "no recollection" of the meeting at which the Hatch Act violation occurred, except that there were "cookies on the table." Her performance at that and a subsequent hearing, combined with allegations that Doan tried to intimidate employees who were cooperating with the Committee's investigation, led an exasperated Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) to call for her resignation:

Nevertheless, Doan remained on the job, looking like she would ride out the remainder of Bush's second term. But this week, she was summoned to the White House and given the axe. The question everyone is asking is: why now?

There is speculation that Doan's departure has something to do with the recent exoneration of her agency's inspector general, Brian Miller. Miller was recently cleared of misconduct allegations in two separate whistleblower investigations, much to the displeasure of Doan. It may be that Doan's ongoing public spat with Miller, on top of all of her other problems, was the straw that broke the camel's back.

What's next for Lurita Doan? It seems likely we have not seen or heard the last of Doan, who was once a very successful government contractor and deep-pocketed GOP donor. POGO will be watching.

-- Neil Gordon