Paul Tonko: “The highest individual government salary funded by the American taxpayer is that of the President of the United States…”

“The highest individual government salary funded by the American taxpayer is that of the President of the United States at a total of $400,000, or so I thought. The President is certainly the highest paid public servant, but it turns out that the leader of the free world isn't actually the highest paid executive on the taxpayers' payroll. In fact, the highest Federal Government salaries by far can be earned by private sector executives who are paid up to $700,000 per year directly in taxpayer dollars. I do not mean executives who earn their multibillion-dollar incomes by selling often overpriced and underperforming equipment to our men and women in uniform, though the customer is the Federal Government. Those salaries are paid through transactions in the private sector. No, I am talking about the Federal Government salaries paid directly by the Pentagon and other agencies to private contractor executives, direct salaries paid for 100 percent by taxpayer dollars. You won't find these exorbitant pay rates on government income lists. They certainty aren't subject to the current Federal employee pay and hiring freeze. {time} 2030 In fact, that $700,000 maximum salary increases every year to reach even greater heights even as we contemplate cutting other areas of our budget to new lows, including that of our military service branches. These salaries are being paid by a department that has not been able to pass a standard audit in its entire history.…”