Sen. Ernst questions the need for taxpayers to fund vacant office space while most DC federal employees continue to work remotely.

Government Office Space Sitting Empty as Employees Work from Home

Did you know that a staggering 75 percent of available office space for federal departments and agencies ‍in and around the nation’s capital is currently unused? That’s right—while many government employees continue to work from⁤ home, ⁢taxpayer money is still being spent on maintaining, cleaning,‌ and climate-controlling these empty spaces.

This eye-opening ⁤analysis ‍was recently conducted⁢ by the Government ⁤Accountability Office (GAO)‌ for Congress.⁢ The report reveals the significant costs associated with maintaining vacant office space and highlights the ‌need for action.

Sen. Joni ⁢Ernst Calls for ‌Accountability

In ⁢response to ⁤these findings, Sen. Joni Ernst⁣ (R-Iowa) is taking action. She is urging 24 inspectors⁣ general⁢ (IG) to ‌investigate‍ the costs incurred by their agencies due to ‌vacant office space and determine whether ⁣leases should be canceled or space should ‍be sold off. Additionally, Sen. Ernst⁤ wants the IGs to assess ​the impact of ⁢mass teleworking on government response times.

The IGs, appointed ⁤by the president and confirmed ⁤by the Senate, play⁢ a ⁣crucial role in identifying and addressing waste, ‌fraud, and abuse within the federal ‌government.

“Americans are being put on hold while too ⁢many federal⁣ employees are phoning it in,” says⁣ Sen. Ernst. She believes it’s time for the federal government to⁣ be held ⁤accountable for the rising ⁣costs of⁤ teleworking.

The Impact of Teleworking

Prior to the COVID-19⁢ pandemic, teleworking was only utilized by‌ a small percentage of federal ‍employees. However, as​ the pandemic hit, the majority of federal ⁣workers, especially those in the Washington area, transitioned ⁢to ‌teleworking.

Sen. Ernst points out that the ‍costs of unused office space and reports of⁤ federal workers being paid without performing their duties are clear examples ⁤of taxpayer dollars going to waste.

She highlights the consequences of this situation, stating, “Thousands of calls to ‌the Department ⁣of Veterans ⁣Affairs (VA) from ‌veterans seeking mental health services are going unanswered. Desperate travelers are waiting ⁣hours on the phone or in line ⁤hoping to speak with someone at the ‍State ​Department about passport delays that are causing vacation cancellations.”

Seniors calling the Social Security Administration are also facing challenges, experiencing longer wait times​ or unanswered calls‍ as the agency shifts to ‌remote work.

Finding the Right Balance

While Sen. Ernst acknowledges the positive aspects of teleworking,⁣ such as cost savings and talent retention, she emphasizes the need for balance. ​Telework arrangements should not hinder agencies’ missions, delay service delivery, or ‌impede workforce management.

She cites a Commerce Department IG analysis that revealed millions of dollars​ in unpaid work and a patent⁢ application backlog due to lax oversight and inadequate internal ⁤controls of telework. This highlights the importance​ of⁢ effective management and ⁤accountability.

Sen. Ernst is determined to hold federal employees accountable and has even created the “Squeal⁤ Award”⁣ to recognize​ those who refuse to answer the call⁣ of duty.

The ‌Challenge of⁤ Obtaining Information

Uncovering ‌all the facts about the benefits and costs⁣ of federal teleworking won’t be easy. OpenTheBooks.com, a nonprofit watchdog organization, submitted⁣ a Freedom of Information ‌Act (FOIA) request ⁤to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to obtain information about the work‌ locations of government employees. However, the Biden administration has refused ‍to release ‍this information.

As Sen. Ernst continues her efforts to address the ⁢issues surrounding teleworking, transparency and accountability remain crucial.