Secretary Ben Carson explained to the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday how his agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, decided to buy a more than $31,000 dining set without a congressional signoff.
Legally, committees have to OK any budget to redecorate above $5,000.
The former neurosurgeon says he was told secretaries traditionally redecorate their offices but says the design ideas weren't his.
"You know I'm not really big into decorating. If it was up to me, my office would probably look like a hospital waiting room," Carson said.
He says the department also recommended he replace the office's dining room furniture for safety reasons.
"People were being stuck by nails," Carson says. "A chair had collapsed with somebody sitting in it."
Carson told the committee he left the set's style and color up to his wife, Candy, and says the next thing he knew, the dining set was purchased. Carson said he immediately canceled the order.
But the HUD secretary defended his wife. He says, "She's the most frugal person in the world."
Carson says his department has since added a chief financial officer who will watch over future purchases.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
