EXCLUSIVE:
A
top DOGE leader
in the Senate is trying to reel in a massive federal grant from a nonprofit focused on promoting fishing, boating and outdoors she alleges is being used to pad executive salaries, a characterization the organization rejected.
Sen. Joni Ernst
, from R-Iowa, along with her team, has been examining federal grants for signs of waste, fraud, or misuse of public money. They discovered a $27 million grant awarded to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.
RBFF
).
Over $26 million from the grant had already been distributed, and looking at the longer term, RBFF has received $164 million in total funding since 2012, including almost $13 million allocated for this year, 2024.
From the government website
USA Spending
, the grant’s purpose highlights RBFF’s “Take Me Fishing” consumer campaign that includes a social and digital media component, as well as ads on Walt Disney Company-branded streaming services and “mobile fishing units” that cater to urban communities and “underserved audiences.”
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The Disney deal is valued at $1.99 million, and
other expenditures
included $204,000 in SEO consulting, $5 million to a Minnesota agency for media, creative development and design, and $189,000 to an Atlanta hotel.
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The non-profit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, reported that multiple high-ranking officials received six-figure salaries, amounting to over $1.5 million collectively. It is said that the group’s president earns approximately $318,000 annually. Many of the other key personnel earned salaries ranging from the mid-six figures.
Nonetheless, representatives from RBFF asserted their stance in a statement to Fox News Digital, indicating that public money is being utilized appropriately.
“The RBFF boasts a strong legacy of drawing Americans to the activities of fishing and boating,” the statement said.
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Over the last decade, significant growth in participation has led to direct benefits for local communities, independent enterprises, and producers through heightened expenditures.
The RBFF stated that U.S. fishermen contribute approximately $150 billion in economic impact and support around 1 million jobs across the country.
The organization stated that ‘in reality, we understand that each angler contributes $1,500 annually to commercial activities, a number that stimulates economic action across all states within the federation.’
“We are wholly funded via a competitive grant that is awarded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service via the Sport Fish Restoration excise tax, and our organization is supported by state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as industry manufacturers and retailers from Alaska to Florida.”
Ernst remained unconvinced and told Fox News Digital, “Washington completely fell for enriching overly priced recreational consultants.”
She joked that “special interests” should instead be advised to “go jump in the lake.”
The Department of Interior should reclaim the leftover $650,000 and inform these consultants that they can seek opportunities elsewhere.
Fox News Digital additionally contacted the Interior Department seeking further comments on the grant, which was issued before the current leadership took over at the agency.
Original article source:
Dogecoin Senator advises outdoor organization to ‘take a hike’ following discovery of substantial grants linked to elevated compensation.
