A Senate report led by Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst reveals that only 6% of federal employees work full-time in person, raising concerns over telework abuse and wasted taxpayer funds.
The report highlights inefficiencies in federal agencies and calls for immediate reforms to address these issues.
Federal telework has surged dramatically since the pandemic, with one-third of employees now working entirely remotely.
Ernst has accused federal agencies of failing to regulate telework effectively, pointing out that billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on maintaining largely vacant government buildings. The report disclosed that the average occupancy rate for major federal offices in Washington, D.C., is just 12%, despite ongoing expenses for maintenance, energy, and unused office space.
Ernst, a long-time critic of government inefficiency, expressed outrage over what she described as egregious abuses of telework policies. She cited instances of federal employees engaging in personal activities such as relaxing in bubble baths, playing golf, and even getting arrested—all on the taxpayers’ dime.
“It would almost be funny if it wasn’t happening at the expense of veterans, seniors, small business owners, and Americans in need of competent service from government agencies,” Ernst stated.
The investigation, which began last year, uncovered numerous cases where lax oversight led to delayed public services. Veterans seeking mental health care faced significant delays due to insufficient staffing in offices.
Similarly, critical warnings about baby formula safety were delayed because of communication gaps caused by telework.
The report also highlighted cases of paycheck fraud, where employees exploited telework policies to claim inflated locality pay by living far from their assigned offices, some over 2,000 miles away, while receiving salaries intended for high-cost regions.
To address these inefficiencies, Ernst has proposed relocating federal offices to areas more aligned with their missions, selling off thousands of vacant government buildings, and implementing modern tools such as VPN logins and office swipe-ins to monitor employee performance. She has also called for stricter telework agreements to ensure that taxpayers prioritize employee convenience.
Ernst’s findings come as the federal government faces increasing scrutiny over wasteful spending and declining accountability. The report coincides with the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new initiative co-led by entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
President-elect Donald Trump‘s “Save America” agenda tasked the department with streamlining federal operations, cutting bureaucratic waste, and reducing unnecessary regulations.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy have voiced their support for requiring federal employees to return to in-person work as a step toward restoring accountability in government agencies.
In addition to her investigation, Ernst has long championed legislation aimed at reducing federal waste. She has introduced measures to relocate taxpayer-funded buildings away from Washington, D.C., a move she argues would make government more responsive to the needs of everyday Americans. She has also supported measures to reduce the size of the federal workforce and guarantee the responsible use of public funds.
As the newly appointed leader of the Senate’s caucus working alongside the Department of Government Efficiency, Ernst is urging Congress to act quickly on her proposed reforms. “Federal employees need to return to work, but if they don’t want to, I will make their wish come true,” she declared.
The report has ignited a broader debate over the future of telework in the federal government, with growing calls for immediate changes to improve efficiency and restore public trust in government operations.