The liberal media is ignoring the developing story detailing the fiduciary incompetence of the Department of State (DOS) during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General (IG) of the DOS, Steve A. Linick, appears to be taking his job quite seriously. 

Linick’s third “management alert” since assuming the IG position about a year ago – a position that had been vacant for the previous six years – highlighted “significant deficiencies in the grant-management process” of the DOS.

On October 6, 2014, a Washington Examiner article, entitled “State Dept. inspector general: More evidence of rampant mismanagement under Hillary Clinton,” quoted Linick’s statement that, “In FY 2012, the Department obligated more than $1.6 billion for approximately 14,000 grants and cooperative agreements worldwide.”

Then, on October 8, 2014, a FOX News article entitled “Who’s tending State Department’s cash cow?” advanced the story after this opening paragraph:

“EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. State Department has been handing over billions of dollars in grants for foreign projects -- ranging  from cultural exchanges to “climate change” activities -- without adequate oversight or adequate assessment of the risks involved, and sometimes without knowing whether the money was actually spent, according to the department’s Inspector General.”

Exploring the detailed world of DOS grants is a task similar to wading through a room filled knee-deep with peanut butter.

In order to sample the milk from the DOS’s “cash cow” [hit tip FOX News] in 2012, go to this site. WARNING: It is not particularly user-friendly.

Once there, put on your waders, and follow, as best you can, this route:

(A)  To examine grants from 2012, check the boxes labeled “open,” “closed,” and “archived” under “OPPORTUNITY STATUS.”

(B)  Under “FUNDING INSTRUMENT TYPE” check the blocks labeled “cooperative agreement” and “grant.”

(C)  In the “AGENCY” field, check “All Department of State.”

(D)  The pages covering grants/cooperative agreements posted in 2012 begin midway down page 8.

Among the many projects you’ll find, ten are summarized below.  Each is formatted here as:

- Funding Opportunity # (a combination of letters and numbers)

- Opportunity Title (in italics)

- The Department of State agency sponsoring the project

- Date that the opportunity was posted

- Excerpt from the opportunity description

- Funding available for grants

DRLA-DRLAQM-13-009
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) and the Secretary's Office on Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) joint call for proposals for the Gender-Based Violence Emergency Response and Prevention Initiative
Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Date Posted: December 21, 2012

“This Initiative would primarily provide emergency assistance and protection for survivors of gender-based violence, including harmful traditional practices.”

$500,000

ECA-PE-C-PF-13-22
Ngwang Choephel Fellows Program
Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Date Posted: December 10, 2012

“…promotes activities that preserve cultural traditions, enhance sustainable development, expand economic opportunities, and support environmental conservation within Tibetan communities in China.”

$558,000

INL-13-CA-0002-AFGHANISTAN-11092012
Afghanistan Prisoner Rehabilitation Programs
Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair

Date Posted: November 9, 2012

“…support programming activities that improve conditions and post-release outcomes for incarcerated populations in Afghanistan.”

$2,000,000

SCAIN-12-GR-001-SCA-062612
Building U.S.-India Connections through Dance
Department of State, U.S. Mission to India

Date Posted: June 26, 2012

“Connecting Indians with the U.S. using dance, this project aims to show the vibrancy and innovative creativity of U.S. society. It explores the commonalities and differences between India and the United States through the medium of contemporary dance (and may make references to traditional dance forms).”

$75,000

NEAI-RSOI-12-GR-002
Microsoft Initiative
Department of State, Iraq Assistance Office

Date Posted: May 30, 2012

“…projects that support English Language / Microsoft Computer Certification training for Iraqi Minority Community Women.”

$7,000,000

DRLA-DRLAQM-12-058
Strengthening Teachers' Unions and Developing Human Rights Curriculum
Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Date Posted: May 22, 2012

“DRL requests proposals to establish one overall program in at least three of four countries (Egypt, Georgia, Honduras, and Zimbabwe) to focus on advancing worker rights and civil participation through engagement with teachers and the organizations that represent them.”

$500,000

DRLA-DRLAQM-12-056
Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Promoting the Rights of At-Risk Iraqis
Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Date Posted: May 15, 2012

“DRL requests proposals for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of gender-based violence (GBV) in Iraq, including sexual violence, domestic violence, early and forced marriage, trafficking for sex or labor, and harmful traditional practices such as honor killings and female genital mutilation.”

$2,000,000

DRLA-DRLAQM-12-045
The Secretary's Global Equality Fund: Programs to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people
Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Date Posted: April 12, 2012

“Launched by Secretary Clinton in December 2011, the Secretary’s Global Equality fund aims to support the work of civil society organizations working on LGBT issues around the world.”

$1,550,000

DRLA-DRLAQM-12-038
Secretary’s War Widows Program
Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Date Posted: March 30, 2012

“Request for Proposals (RFP) from organizations interested in submitting proposals to address the need for sustainable job creation and expanded access to economic opportunity for widows in Iraq, particularly marginalized widows living in poverty.”

$5,000,000

ECA-PE-C-12-57
TechWomen
Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Date Posted: Marcy 14, 2012

“Applicants should plan to demonstrate the capacity to recruit and select 1) a total of approximately 42 women from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia and Yemen; or 2) a total of approximately 36 women from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zimbabwe, to participate in a four- to six-week peer mentoring program in the United States. The mentoring experience will focus on advancing the status of professional women in the field of technology through project-based mentorships, networking opportunities, and enhancement activities.”

$7,215,000

On October 12, 2014, a Department of State spokesperson, quoted in a previous American Thinker article, was emailed this “media inquiry”:

“Are any of the 14,000 “grants and cooperative agreements” mentioned in first paragraph of this document [referring to Linick’s third “management alert”] currently being investigated for possible fraud and/or misappropriation involving DOS monies?”

To date, there’s been no response.