Ignoring GSA fiasco in Vegas, NOAA wants to hire magician for conference

You don’t need a mind reader to know that hiring a magician for your government conference may not be a great idea right now.

But that’s what NOAA had planned before it pulled an advertisement for a speaker on the “magic of change” for an upcoming confab in Silver Spring, Md.

The agency wanted a motivational speaker to create “a unique model of translating magic and [principles] of the psychology of magic, magic tools, techniques, and experiences into a method of teaching leadership,” according to the ad, which appeared Tuesday.

NOAA took down the ad, however, after media reports surfaced Thursday.

The agency “has referred the solicitation to the General Counsel and NOAA’s Chief of Resources, Operations and Management to review the statement of work and the process surrounding the solicitation,” NOAA spokesman Scott Smullen emailed POLITICO.