The two year-old Transportation Security Administration spends $460,000 for an awards banquet. Additionally, the Inspector General of the Homeland Security Deparment is investigating the TSA's compensation paractices:

The investigation by the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general, Clark Kent Ervin, also found the TSA gave its senior executives bonuses averaging $16,000, higher than at any other federal government agency, and failed to provide adequate justification in more than a third of the 88 cases examined.

The report said lower-level employees were shortchanged, with a far lower percentage receiving bonuses.

"A substantial inequity exists in TSA’s performance recognition program between executive and non-executive employees," the report said.

It is good to see that we're spending $81,000 for plaques and screwing the rank-and-file baggage screeners instead of, I don't know, stopping hijackers.

Oh, and good job with Cat Stephens, guys.