Forest Service Violations of Section 303 of the 1998 Interior Department Appropriations Act

GAO commented on whether actions taken by employees of the Forest Service to implement a Communication Plan for the Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda violated section 303 of the 1998 Interior Department Appropriations Act, which prohibited the expenditure of funds for certain lobbying activities undertaken by covered federal officials. GAO noted that: (1) expenditure of funds by the Forest Service for certain activities undertaken to implement a Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda Communication Plan violated section 303 of the 1998 Interior Department Appropriations Act; and (2) activities included: (a) urging members of the public during a meeting and to contact Congress in support of road funding initiatives in legislation and in the budget; and (b) a campaign to promote public support for a budget proposal seeking to change the way certain payments to states from Forest Service revenues are calculated.