Why does govt need so many Public affairs officers?
Newsday: Cadre grows to rein in message
Between September 2000 and September 2004, the number of public affairs officials rose 9 percent, from 4,327 to 4,703, in executive-branch agencies, according to U.S. Office of Personnel Management statistics. Meanwhile, the federal work force grew 6 percent.
The cost of public affairs staffing has grown by more than $50 million, records show, from $279 million in 2000 to $332 million in 2003, the last year for which figures are available.
More evidence that the federal govt is working extremely hard to control the message as well as the amount of information available to the public. This should be worrisome for civil rights advocates.