( CNN ) -- The U.S . Postal Service spent more than $ 792,000 `` without justification '' on meals and events in one five-month period even as it reported losing $ 3.8 billion this year , the agency 's inspector general says in a report . Employees spent $ 792,022 on meals and external events `` without justification for food purchases , purchased alcohol without officer approval and exceeded the dollar limit for meals , '' the report says . Among the purchases were crab cakes , beef Wellington and scallops at an installation ceremony for one of several postmasters in the United States , the report says . Despite the Postal Service 's mandate to curtail spending , its inspector general found that `` imprudent spending continues to occur , including continued purchases of gift cards from unauthorized vendors and expensive items purchased as employee recognition awards and retirement gifts . '' Read the full report ( PDF ) Such purchases conflict with the agency 's goal to drive down costs , according to the report , which covered spending during several months in late 2008 and early 2009 . The Postal Service reported a $ 3.8 billion net loss for the 2009 fiscal year , despite cost-cutting and reductions in retiree health benefit payments . Asked about the expenses , a Postal Service spokesman pointed to an agency response included in the report . In that response , the agency 's vice president and controller , Vincent Devito , agreed to enforce a spending limit on events and recognition awards as well as make sure employees justify business meal expenses . `` We agree that further policy enforcement is essential to ensure that the policy is followed and imprudent spending is no longer an issue , '' Devito wrote . `` It appears there is still work to be done in curtailing spending even further during this time of economic uncertainty . '' Among the report 's findings : . • There was `` no business justification '' for $ 355,451 of food provided at a September 2008 national sales educational conference ; it included a $ 96-per-person dinner and a $ 500 `` bartender charge . '' • An installation celebration for one postmaster -- the report did n't say where -- included `` unallowable food purchases '' totaling more than $ 17,000 . The menu included `` crab cakes , beef Wellington , shrimp and scallops '' even though Postal Service guidelines allow for only `` light snacks '' at such events . • There was `` no business necessity or justification '' provided for $ 77,757 in breakfast meals for events between September 2008 and February 2009 . The report , issued December 3 , documented purchases for lodging , table linens , flowers and other items `` that we consider excessive during this challenging economic time . '' `` Such purchases are in direct conflict with the Postal Service 's objective of driving down costs in all operations and processes , '' the report said . `` Moreover , the public 's image of such purchases could have a detrimental effect on the Postal Service 's public image . '' The report cited two Postal Service districts that purchased movie tickets for $ 14,140 to give incentives to employees after the postmaster general `` issued a memo directing a curtailment of spending . '' It also documented the purchase of 30 retirement watches , costing $ 216 each , in another district . A CNN investigation this year revealed that the Postal Service spent $ 1.2 million to buy the lakefront home of an employee who was relocating . The purchase was part of a policy that allowed the Postal Service to pay for employee homes when they moved , whatever the cost . Months after the story , the Postal Service changed its policy to limit home purchases to $ 800,000 .
Purchases included crab cakes , beef Wellington , scallops for postmaster installation ceremony . The first time I went to the post office was in the early 70s when my parents were still living at home Purchases conflict with goal to cut costs after reporting $ 3.8 billion loss in 2009 fiscal year . `` It appears there is still work to be done in curtailing spending , '' agency 's vice president says .