March 7, 2012 – At a meeting of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R, NH) questioned NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco on abuses of NOAA's Asset Forfeiture Fund, including the purchase of a $300,000 luxury vessel that was found to have been improperly used by NOAA staff.
Ayotte also questioned Lubchenco on accountability measures at NOAA and reforms of the Office of Law Enforcement, which a Commerce Department Inspector General's report found had levied excessive fines against New England fisherman and had misused the Asset Forfeiture Fund.
Lubchenco, who had too over at NOAA after the purchase of the boat and several other abuses had occurred, testified that in response to the Inspector General's report NOAA initiated a "top-to-bottom overhall" of its Office of Law Enforcement, including new leadership and policies.