{"id":1829708,"date":"2023-01-31T08:05:54","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T13:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1829708"},"modified":"2023-01-31T08:10:43","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T13:10:43","slug":"our-tax-dollars-paid-thousands-of-government-staff-covid-unemployment-benefits-while-they-worked-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/our-tax-dollars-paid-thousands-of-government-staff-covid-unemployment-benefits-while-they-worked-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Tax Dollars Paid Thousands Of Government Staff COVID Unemployment Benefits While They Worked From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Four-tax-dollars-paid-thousands-of-government-staff-covid-unemployment-benefits-while-they-worked-from-home%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1829708&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/pexels-alexander-mils-2068975.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p>Millions of Americans were left jobless during the devastating lockdowns imposed by the government. However, federal employees benefited from the taxpayer-funded pandemic unemployment fund. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/13\/politics\/federal-telework-ramps-up-amid-worker-frustrations\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">While working mostly from home.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Despite staying on taxpayers\u2019 payroll during the height of the pandemic panic, greedy bureaucrats in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/five-current-or-former-irs-employees-charged-defrauding-federal-covid-19-relief-programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Internal Revenue Service<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-73-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Transportation Security Administration<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-73-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/illinoisattorneygeneral.gov\/pressroom\/2022_06\/20220623c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United States Postal Service<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amtrakoig.gov\/news\/investigations-press-release\/amtrak-oig-investigation-leads-indictment-former-amtrak-employee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amtrak<\/a>?, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-73-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Secret Service<\/a> Taxpayers were conned out of millions of dollars more by Covid&#8217;s unemployment fund and wage assistance programs.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Homeland Security provided lost wage assistance for nearly 2,000 eligible employees. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-73-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022 DHSIG report discovered<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-69-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lax and rushed<\/a> Standards, \u201cclaimants only needed to self-certify they met eligibility requirements when they filed for [pandemic unemployment assistance] benefits,\u201d More than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/2022-09\/OIG-22-73-Sep22.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$8.8 million<\/a> In taxpayer funds, 638 DHS employees were illegally funneled into the account. FEMA\u2019s state workforce agencies also paid out $1.2 million in \u201clost wages assistance\u201d To 935 DHS employees who were \u201cfully employed.\u201d During the approval period, at least 366 DHS officials who were not eligible were actually paid overtime <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/disaster\/coronavirus\/governments\/supplemental-payments-lost-wages-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Additional to regular unemployment benefits, you could be eligible for up to hundreds per week.<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Federal authorities have illegally grifted \u201cfraudsters\u201d Attracted the attention of Republican Senator Joni Ernst and her January <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/622297599\/Sen-Joni-Ernst-January-2023-Squeal-Award\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cmake \u2018em squeal\u201d Award<\/a>A monthly subscription is available. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ernst.senate.gov\/priorities\/make-em-squeal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Effort<\/a> Ernst led the investigation into government corruption. \u201cmake Washington more competent and less wasteful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThousands of active federal employees may have <em>falsely claimed<\/em> that they lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, in order to be paid twice by taxpayers:\u00a0Once for being employed and then again for pretending to be unemployed,\u201d Ernst explained her explanation in her announcement for the squeal prize.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edva\/pr\/former-federal-employee-pleads-guilty-2m-unemployment-benefits-fraud-scheme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Already charged<\/a> Several federal employees working in fraud-prone agencies are among them. However, the prolific behavior could be more tax-paying for public staff who come under the watchful eye of Inspector General Michael Horowitz (who Ernst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/622282546\/Sen-Joni-Ernst-Letter-To-Inspector-General-Michael-Horowitz-Jan-27-2023?secret_password=ZMdlxvIsf9N4tUy9xDa5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Recently, urged<\/a> To \u201cidentify how many federal employees applied for and received pandemic unemployment and lost wages\u00a0assistance for which they were not eligible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also urged the chief IG of the Investigations Group to retrieve the funds and fire the people responsible. \u201cwho abused the public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is appalling for anyone fortunate enough to have the reliability of a government paycheck to take advantage\u00a0of financial assistance intended to provide a lifeline to Americans who lost their jobs or were unable to work as\u00a0a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d Ernst wrote.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"View Sen. Joni Ernst Letter To Inspector General Michael Horowitz- Jan. 27, 2023 on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/622282546\/Sen-Joni-Ernst-Letter-To-Inspector-General-Michael-Horowitz-Jan-27-2023#from_embed\">Sen. Joni Ernst Letter To I\u2026<\/a> By <a title=\"View The Federalist&#039;s profile on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/user\/274202084\/The-Federalist#from_embed\">Federalist<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee has already been created. This oversight committee is part of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity &#038; Efficiency. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pandemicoversight.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-12\/PRAC_Semiannual_Report_Sept_2022_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">determined<\/a> That \u201ctens of thousands\u201d Many federal employees applied for Small Business Administration loans, and were granted them even though they were government-employed. <\/p>\n<p>Ernst, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, noted in her letter that the PRAC\u2019s investigation into loans is ongoing and could yield even more deception and taxpayer money wasted by government workers.<\/p>\n<p>Federal employees weren\u2019t the only ones who wrongfully raked in millions of pandemic dollars. Many state and local staff were involved in the fraud. <a href=\"https:\/\/oig.georgia.gov\/press-releases\/2023-01-04\/oig-publishes-open-letter-regarding-ui-fraud-state-government\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/ig\/files\/2021-09-0274-DWD-Employee-Criminal-Activity_PUBLIC.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indiana<\/a>?, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.lla.state.la.us\/publicreports.nsf\/0\/0fed67a7da13ec4c8625888c0072ab99\/$file\/000279e7.pdf?openelement&#038;.7773098\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Louisiana<\/a>\u00a0Also, defrauded taxpayers.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>\n Jordan Boyd is a staff writer for The Federalist. She also co-produces The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work was also featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and other publications. Jordan graduated from Baylor University, where she studied journalism and political science. Follow Jordanboydtx on twitter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Millions of Americans were left jobless during the devastating lockdowns imposed by the government. However, federal employees benefited from the taxpayer-funded pandemic unemployment fund. While working mostly from home. Despite staying on taxpayers\u2019 payroll during the height of the pandemic panic, greedy bureaucrats in the Internal Revenue Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1828354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[4848,4127,5352,5045,9413,8037,8360,4286,4846],"class_list":["post-1829708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-benefits","tag-covid","tag-dollars","tag-government","tag-paid","tag-staff","tag-tax","tag-thousands","tag-unemployment"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1829708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829708\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1828354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1829708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1829708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1829708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}