The $18M "Redesign"?

I'm sure you've already heard or read the ABC News article on the $18M Recovery.org Redesign (or, more appropriately, I hope....Redevelopment). Unfortunately the article doesn't go into many details of what's actually being done but I'm hoping the new site would help answer these very questions.

Anyone work at or know someone at Smartronix?

Truth be told, I'm a little conflicted here. While I support our president and the openness he's promoting in government (and love to see that kind of money being allocated to a serious web project), I can't help but think that $9M-ish guaranteed with the potential to balloon to $18M is a bit much. Thoughts?

The link, btw, if you haven't read the article:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/07/18m-being-spent-to-redesign-rec...