ATF Chief Comes Under Fire for Cost Overruns Carl J. Truscott, director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is under fire because the agency’s new headquarters in Washington, DC, is “at least $19 million over budget,” according to The Washington Post.

A complaint that Truscott had pushed unnecessary changes or upgrades in the building plan was sent to the office of the Justice Department’s inspector general, the newspaper said. The new building will encompass 438,000 square feet. A Senate subcommittee is reportedly also investigating the cost overruns.

Among the upgrades Truscott reportedly wanted was a $65,000 conference table and hardwood floors and other custom touches costing more than $100,000. Apparently none of these items had been approved. Another controversial expense was the nearly $1 million annual cost of five full-time agents and two armored Chevrolet Suburbans which would be Truscott’s personal security detail. Previous ATF directors have not had such security details.

Quoting unidentified sources, the newspaper said the cost overruns had consumed an almost $13.5 million budget surplus “and millions of dollars more from (ATF’s) current operating budget.”

Truscott reportedly cancelled some of the upgrades after having met with Acting Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty.

A spokesman for the General Services Administration reportedly said none of the ATF expenditures are outside the guidelines for such projects, the newspaper said.

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