A recently released audit has exposed a significant lapse in accountability within California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), revealing they wasted a staggering $4.6 million on mobile devices that went unused. Over 6,200 cell phones and wireless hotspot devices sat dormant, racking up fees while many Californians struggled during the pandemic. By December 2020, the EDD issued more than 7,200 devices to support remote work. However, they continued to pay for over 5,000 of them even after the Governor lifted the stay-at-home order in February 2023.
This eye-popping mismanagement doesn’t stop there. The California Air Resources Board was also found to have overpaid an employee for leave they didn’t earn, showcasing systemic issues across various departments. This raises serious questions about how state funds are being managed and whether agencies are truly held accountable for their spending.
With these oversights occurring, one might wonder, just how secure are our government finances? If millions can vanish on unused devices, what else are we overlooking? Perhaps EDD needs a long talk with its tech department about better inventory practices!
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
