Republican Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa has released a bold 60-page report taking aim at the rampant misuse of telework policies within the federal government. Dubbed "Out of Office," the document critiques how federal bureaucrats have taken advantage of remote work arrangements unrestrained by accountability. Released during the inaugural meeting of the Senate's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-chaired by Ernst alongside prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the report brings to light Ernst's two-year investigation.
One of the main concerns Ernst highlights is the staggering increase in federal employees opting for telework since the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, only about 3% of federal workers telecommuted full-time; today, this number has skyrocketed to nearly 90%. Adding to the issue, Ernst reports there has been widespread abuse of locality pay, whereby some workers are fraudulently collecting higher salaries meant for Washington, D.C., residents, even though they live far away.
"If federal employees can’t be found at their desks, exactly where are they?" the report provocatively asks, detailing numerous high-profile cases of federal officials, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, being absent from their official duties.
"Federal employees are on the beach and in bubble baths but not in office buildings," Ernst lamented during her announcement, asserting her commitment to making Washington accountable to taxpayers. "For years, I have been tracking down bureaucrats relaxing, playing golf, and doing just about everything besides their job. It would almost be funny if it wasn’t happening on the taxpayers’ dime and at the expense of seniors, veterans, and small business owners who need competent service from government agencies. Federal employees need to return to work, but if they don’t want to, I will make their wish come true," she added.
Ernst's report indicates dire performance problems across federal agencies exacerbated by telework. For example, her investigation revealed how the shift to remote work delayed serious safety issues at baby formula plants. A whistleblower complaint detailing concerns was delayed by staffing issues related to telecommuting, leading to a tragic incident where contaminated formula led to nine child fatalities.
Also alarming are issues surrounding productivity among federal workers. Ernst states, "Ninety percent of federal employees telework; previously, it was 3%. Only 6% report to work full time, yet nearly one-third of the workforce operates entirely remotely." Ernst points out how this shift has contributed to nearly all major government agency headquarters being less than half-full, with some occupying as little as 8% of their office space, as observed with the Environmental Protection Agency.
This telework culture has extensive financial burdens, with Ernst estimating about $8 billion annually is spent on maintaining and leasing underutilized federal properties. To compound matters, energy expenditures for these empty buildings amount to another $7.7 billion each year. Ernst argues it’s high time to take action against this waste and inefficiency.
Among the report’s recommendations, Ernst advocates for using a “use it or lose it” policy for government real estate. She calls for downsizing office space, tracking individual employee productivity, and even relocating non-security-related agencies out of Washington D.C. to areas where their work can be more efficiently integrated with community resources. Ernst also previously introduced the Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems (SHOW UP) Act to enforce stricter accountability measures for telework.
One of the report's shocking revelations involved locality pay abuses where some employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were found fraudulently collecting D.C. locality pay, living hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their offices. Such instances exemplify the concerning mindset among some federal employees who perceive telework as free rein to collect taxpayer-funded salaries without the commensurate responsibilities.
Senator Ernst is determined to find solutions, stating, "If bureaucrats can’t show up for work, let’s end their leases and sell vacant buildings. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for empty office spaces when employees aren’t fulfilling their responsibilities." The push for government accountability is echoed by Musk and Ramaswamy, who have expressed intentions to cut government waste and make federal agencies work more efficiently.
With the current Congress, led by the Republicans, Ernst’s initiatives stand to reshape government operations significantly. The first steps were recognizable at the DOGE meeting where Ernst unveiled her insights and treatment of telework abuses, supported by Musk and Ramaswamy's vision for efficiency.
Bringing the focus back onto employee accountability, Ernst’s report outlines suggestions requiring agencies to provide monthly updates on the attendance of remote workers and plan for more structured monitoring systems to evaluate employee productivity. Reports from the Department of Health and Human Services indicated massive backlogs for inspections and services, pointing to the pressing consequences of the absence of oversight.
Despite the challenges presented, Ernst believes tangible changes can bring about results – not just for taxpayers but for the integrity and functionality of federal services. The exploration of these policy adjustments and the practical implementation of her recommendations will be closely monitored as the Trump administration prepares to take office.
With debates on the future of telework poised to intensify, the cultural shift it has introduced within government agencies is illustrative of larger patterns seen across industries adapting to new norms. Yet, as Ernst’s findings show, without accountability, the impacts could ripple out negatively, threatening the efficiency needed from the federal workforce.
Ernst's newly released report serves as both a surveillance tool and rallying cry for those advocating government accountability. The forthcoming legislative proposals could mark the beginning of significant reforms focused on re-establishing the expectation of presence and productivity within government ranks, ensuring government operations are not just accessible but truly working for the people they serve.