What's up with HUD spending $31,000 for a dining set for Ben Carson?

Amber Randall, DCNF

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: (AFP OUT) President Donald Trump holds an African American History Month listening session attended by nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson (R) and other officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Reynolds - Pool/Getty Images) — (Photo by Michael Reynolds – Pool/Getty Images)

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) purchased a $31,000 dining room set for Secretary Ben Carson’s office, according to a Tuesday report.

The $31,561 purchase consisted of a custom hardwood table, chairs and a hutch for Carson’s office by a career staffer, reported The New York Times.

Carson was unaware that the purchase had been made, according to a HUD spokesperson. However, he does not think that the dining set was too expensive, so he doesn’t plan on returning it, HUD spokesman Raffi Williams said to TheNYT.

“In general, the secretary does want to be as fiscally prudent as possible with the taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Federal law dictates that departments must seek permission “to furnish or redecorate the office of a department head” if they want to spend more than $5,000 doing so. HUD officials reportedly did not ask for congressional approval, as Williams said the table was there to serve a “building-wide need.”

The table set is reportedly coming from Sebree and Associates, a Maryland company, according to records from CNBC.

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