
A new congressional report has exposed shocking levels of government waste tied to federal telework policies under the Biden-Harris administration. Billions of taxpayer dollars continue to be spent on office spaces that sit mostly empty as federal employees work from home.
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee found that nearly 228,000 federal workers are never required to report to the office. Millions more participate in telework for most of the workweek. The investigation revealed that several agencies are using less than 25% of their office capacity while taxpayers still pay for building leases and maintenance.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the committee, condemned the administration for prioritizing union preferences over government efficiency. “The Biden-Harris administration has allowed federal bureaucrats to stay home while the American people cover the cost of empty offices,” Comer said. He argued that this misuse of public funds must be stopped.
The report also highlighted that agencies like the General Services Administration and the Department of Education have telework rates as high as 50% and 55%, respectively. Despite these staggering numbers, the government spends $7 billion annually to lease and maintain federal office space. Additionally, $3.3 billion has been wasted on furniture for offices that are barely used.
Outgoing Biden officials further worsened the situation by securing agreements with federal unions to lock in telework guarantees until 2029. This move severely limits President Donald Trump’s ability to reverse these costly policies and restore accountability within federal agencies.
The committee is calling for immediate reforms, including cutting unnecessary office space, renegotiating union contracts and limiting telework to pre-pandemic levels. Comer pledged to support efforts to reduce waste and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.