DRUG CONTROL OFFICE PROTECTING PUBLIC PURSE

The recent story, along with its misleading headline "GAO 'looking for
fraud' at drug czar's office," was seriously in error and damaged the
reputation of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and its director.

Neither the "drug czar" nor the office are targets of a "fraud probe." In
fact, congressional inquiries into expenses associated with the national
youth anti-drug media campaign followed our aggressive actions to protect
the public purse.

The ONDCP, not the General Accounting Office, is responsible for
withholding payment of $18 million to other government agencies and private

contractors because the reasonableness and allowability of those costs has

not been established to our satisfaction. We hired outside experts to
review business plans submitted by a contractor to ensure cost-effectiveness.

The ONDCP first called for an audit when we noticed billing irregularities

and we are transferring contract administration responsibilities from the
Department of Health and Human Services to another department in order
scrutinize costs more closely.

The ONDCP welcomes oversight of this vital drug-prevention effort. Since
its inception in 1998, adolescent drug-use rates have declined 21 percent.

Americans can be proud of the campaign's enormous success.

Janet L. Crist

Chief Of Staff

Executive Office of the President

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Washington, D.C.