Mrs. Bunnatine “Bunny” Greenhouse
On September 24, 2007, Bunnatine (Bunny) Hayes Greenhouse, former chief of contracting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, visited campus as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series of the Center for Accounting Ethics, Governance, and the Public Interest. During the day, Mrs. Greenhouse met with small groups of students, faculty, alumni, and other guests from the Los Angeles community. Nearly 400 students, faculty, alumni, and community members listened to her presentation, “Ethics and the Whistleblower.” Greenhouse told the audience that integrity is essential in government. “Integrity in our government is not an option, but an obligation,” Greenhouse said.
As the top civilian procurement officer, Greenhouse challenged improper Iraq no-bid contracts, which led to her demotion. Until then she was responsible for the award and management of more than $23 billion in contracting to support U.S. infrastructure, the navigation of waterways and the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, Greenhouse has become known for her insistence on fairness and honesty in public service.
“I am proud to be a whistleblower,” Greenhouse said. “This was the most blatant contract abuse I have encountered in my whole career and I had to stand up. Unfortunately, I was the only one to do so.”
Greenhouse left her position after her demotion and has spoken publicly in defense of the public interest in government contracting while also criticizing practices such as “crony contracting” and exercising favoritism toward corporations that connected to the politically powerful.
As a result of her actions, H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act, was created to attempt to reduce abuse with regards to federal government contracts. The bill has passed in the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
“My actions were in congruence with my civic, religious and moral values,” Greenhouse said. “I have no regrets over what I did.”
Greenhouse said that she initially learned about ethics from her parents and through her Christian upbringing. Although her parents weren’t highly educated, Greenhouse said, they had a vision for Greenhouse and her five siblings to get an education and become upstanding citizens.
“I learned about personal accountability and responsibility from a mother [and father] in Louisiana,” Greenhouse said. “If [ever] my intent was to deceive then it … was to not be tolerated.”
At the end of her speech, Greenhouse applauded LMU for having six ethics chairs at the university and commended the students who attended the event.
“I see you as beautiful people who have an interest in our nation,” Greenhouse said. “You have to develop the courage and fortitude to maintain [your] values and know integrity.”
The Center for Accounting Ethics, Governance, and the Public Interest sponsored the event as a part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. The program was established to bring prominent individuals to campus to speak about topics related to the center’s mission.
“Mrs. Greenhouse’s story makes us wonder if we will be as prepared as she was to face ethical challenges in our lives,” said Larry Kalbers, director of the center and R. Chad Dreier Chair in Accounting. “Mrs. Greenhouse is a role model and an inspiration for all of us who wish to do our job well and to serve the public interest.”
More information on Mrs. Greenhouse: