
A scathing report from the House Oversight and Accountability Committee has revealed massive government waste caused by excessive federal telework policies. Billions of taxpayer dollars are being drained to support unused office buildings while federal employees continue working from home.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) slammed the Biden-Harris administration for giving too much power to federal unions. “Taxpayers are footing the bill for empty buildings while federal employees stay home,” Comer said. He called the situation a clear example of the government’s failure to prioritize the American people.
According to the report, 228,000 federal employees are never required to return to the office, and nearly all others eligible for telework do so for most of the week. Some agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, have seen remote work rates soar from 2% in 2019 to nearly 30% in 2024.
The government spends approximately $7 billion each year maintaining office buildings that are barely used. Some federal headquarters report occupancy rates as low as 9%. Despite this, agencies have spent $3.3 billion on office furniture for workspaces that remain empty.
The report also criticized Biden administration officials for locking in long-term union agreements that guarantee telework through 2029. This move could prevent the incoming Trump administration from implementing necessary reforms to hold federal workers accountable.
In response, Comer and other lawmakers are pushing for reforms that would reduce federal office space, restrict telework and end union agreements that prioritize bureaucrats over taxpayers. Comer expressed confidence that President Donald Trump will work to eliminate waste and restore accountability in Washington.