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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Army Childcare Fee Assistance Program Failures
Record date · January 1, 2017
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What This Bill Does
This hearing transcript documents a Congressional investigation into the mismanagement of the Army Fee Assistance (AFA) program after administrative control was transferred to the General Services Administration () in 2014. The subcommittee examined reports of massive backlogs, thousands of unanswered communications from military families, and the deletion of emails and voicemails by GSA staff.
The hearing addresses the operational failure of a program that provides financial assistance for off-base childcare to Army families when on-base options are unavailable, directly impacting the ability of servicemembers to maintain employment.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Army families
These families rely on the program for childcare subsidies and experienced delays and communication failures.
General Services Administration (GSA)
The agency was responsible for the administration of the program and the resulting backlog and data management issues.
Child Care Aware
The private contractor previously held the administrative contract for the program before it was transferred to the GSA.
Key Facts
- The Army Fee Assistance (AFA) program provides financial compensation to Army families for off-base childcare when on-base facilities are unavailable.
- In October 2014, administrative control of the AFA program was transferred from the private contractor Child Care Aware to the GSA.
- The transition to GSA was intended to save $4 million.
- Under GSA administration, the program accumulated a backlog of more than 25,000 items.
Show all 7 facts
- Thousands of emails and voicemails from military families regarding the program were left unanswered.
- Thousands of emails and voicemails from military families were deleted by GSA staff.
- The hearing took place on January 6, 2016, before the Subcommittee on Government Operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Army Fee Assistance Program?
Why was the program moved to the GSA?
What problems were identified with the GSA's management?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Outsourcing Failure
The transition from a private contractor to a federal agency (GSA) resulted in a significant degradation of service and administrative failure.
Connected Entities
Sources
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Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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