O'Leary repeatedly faced criticism during her tenure.--> The department allocated $43,500 to a Washington firm to identify unfriendly media outlets. White House Press Secretary Michael D. McCurry called the project "unacceptable." O'Leary claimed the allocation was made without her direct knowledge and defended the research as an attempt to study the efficacy of the department's messaging. A Government Accountability Office audit of travel criticized her for traveling too frequently and spending excessively on accommodations. She apologized to Congressional committees in 1996 for spending that exceeded limits on the funds appropriated to the agency for travel.