
Congressional Report Reveals Massive Waste In Federal Telework Spending
A recent investigation by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee has uncovered billions of taxpayer dollars wasted due to excessive telework policies under the Biden-Harris administration. The probe revealed that thousands of federal employees are rarely required to report to their offices, leaving government buildings empty while maintenance and lease costs continue to drain public funds.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who chairs the committee, sharply criticized the administration for handing too much power to federal employee unions. He argued that these unions have prioritized their members’ desire to work remotely over fulfilling government responsibilities. “The Biden-Harris administration has allowed federal bureaucrats to stay home while taxpayers cover the cost of empty office buildings,” Comer said.
The committee’s findings showed that out of 2.28 million federal civilian employees, roughly 228,000 are never obligated to work in person. Additionally, nearly all eligible employees telework several days each week, further reducing office occupancy. Shockingly, agencies like the Department of Education reported that more than half of their workforce operates remotely.
Government reports also highlighted severe underuse of office buildings. Some agencies admitted to using just 9% of their available office space. Despite this, the federal government continues to spend approximately $7 billion annually on office leases and building maintenance. On top of that, $3.3 billion was spent on office furniture for spaces that remain largely unoccupied.
Outgoing Biden officials worsened the situation by securing long-term agreements with unions, guaranteeing telework arrangements through 2029. This move severely limits President Donald Trump’s ability to reverse these costly policies and restore accountability in federal agencies.
In response, Comer and other lawmakers are pushing for reforms aimed at eliminating waste. Proposed measures include reducing federal office space, renegotiating union contracts and restricting telework to pre-pandemic levels. Comer expressed confidence that President Trump’s leadership will help dismantle the bloated bureaucracy and prioritize taxpayers’ interests over government unions.
msgleo
It should be illegal for unions to be associated in government jobs. The government is inefficient enough without the help of unions.