Federal Bureaucrats Stay Home While Taxpayers Fund Vacant Offices

A newly released report from the House Oversight and Accountability Committee has uncovered billions in wasted taxpayer dollars due to unchecked federal telework policies. The investigation found that government offices remain largely empty as federal employees continue to work from home, leaving taxpayers responsible for costly, unused office spaces.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the committee, strongly criticized the Biden-Harris administration for prioritizing union demands over government accountability. “The Biden-Harris administration has allowed federal workers to stay home while taxpayers pay for empty buildings,” Comer said. He stressed that these policies are draining public funds while reducing the effectiveness of federal agencies.

The committee revealed that nearly 228,000 federal employees never have to report to the office. Additionally, millions more work remotely most of the week. Agencies like the Department of Education and the General Services Administration have seen telework rates skyrocket to 55% and 50%, respectively.

Despite these high telework rates, the federal government still spends $7 billion annually on office leases and maintenance. Shockingly, some federal buildings are used at only 9% capacity, yet remain fully funded. On top of that, agencies have wasted $3.3 billion on office furniture for workspaces that remain empty.

The report also exposed how outgoing Biden officials secured long-term agreements with federal unions that guarantee telework through 2029. These deals will make it harder for President Donald Trump to reverse these wasteful practices and hold federal workers accountable.

The committee is urging swift reforms to eliminate waste and restore accountability. Proposed solutions include reducing unnecessary office space, limiting telework to pre-pandemic levels and renegotiating restrictive union contracts. Comer pledged to support efforts to streamline the federal workforce and prioritize the interests of taxpayers.