The Biden administration is facing challenges and admitting the wastage of taxpayer dollars due to their extensive federal work-from-home policy. Congress has been increasing its oversight of government agencies and their telework policies, especially now that President Biden has formally ended the COVID-19 emergency. Sen. Joni Ernst and other lawmakers argue that billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on unused federal office space. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that more than 75 percent of the available office space at 17 federal agencies remains empty. These agencies spend around $2 billion annually to operate and maintain federal office buildings and over $5 billion in leases. The agency has responded to Sen. Joni Ernst’s inquiries by stating that they are examining office space utilization and considering audits to evaluate telework and remote positions for increased employee efficiency. The GSA also acknowledges the challenges presented by space utilization in the new hybrid work model. A Department of Veterans Affairs employee in Atlanta even posted on Instagram, showing how they work from their bathtub. Inspector General Robert Erickson agrees with Sen. Joni Ernst that the Biden administration needs to address the issue of vacant federal buildings at taxpayers’ expense and that the Inspector General community should prioritize an investigation to hold bureaucrats accountable. Ernst has demanded investigations into remote work abuse at 24 major federal agencies. Some employees have been taking advantage of remote work policies by attending meetings during bubble baths, golfing while on the clock, and attending happy hours. Meanwhile, passport backlogs and long wait times for veteran appointments persist. Recently, GAO employees struck a deal with the agency to maintain their high salaries while working remotely from cheaper cities and states. Earlier this fall, Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients directed all federal employees to return to the office after years of remote work. However, it is still unclear how many federal employees continue to telework, despite Republican demands for this data.
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