Telework Effectiveness Report Requested by Senator Ernst
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) responded to Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst regarding her August 2023 request for information on the effectiveness of telework within the federal government.
In her letter, Ernst reached out to 24 government agencies asking for insights on the challenges of remote work, noting that some agencies had withheld data during the Biden administration. She remarked that circumstances shifted when President Trump was in office.
“The Biden administration was slow to release data, attempting to obscure the extent of telework misuse, whereas the Trump administration focused on being transparent and getting bureaucrats back to their offices,” Ernst commented.
In a letter to Ernst dated Tuesday, OPM assistant inspector Norbert E. Vint noted that staffing shortages had delayed investigations for nearly a year. An OPM report indicated a staggering 528% increase in employees working remotely from 2019 to 2024.
Federal employees have essentially taken four years off while still benefitting from pay raises and flexible telework arrangements established under the Biden administration. Bureaucrats should prioritize serving taxpayers over their own interests. – Joni Ernst
The OPM found several problems, such as 45.1% of telework contracts being missing or expired, and noted that 21.1% of inconsistencies could not be resolved in just four months. Furthermore, they discovered that 8.1% of timesheets did not comply with remote work policies, and 58.1% of telework contract employees failed to meet office requirements according to “badge data.”
“Teleworking during the Biden administration lacked the oversight and accountability that Americans rightfully expect,” said acting OPM official Chuck Ezell. “From missing contracts to inaccurate time reports, these results indicate that even basic compliance is frequently overlooked. Under President Trump’s direction, OPM is actively working to restore a culture of accountability and results.”
Trump issued a Presidential Order on January 20th, following Ernst’s December 5th report on telework’s effectiveness. In that report, she advocated for employees to return to in-person work on a full-time basis, addressing the findings from August’s telework survey.
“I’ve highlighted the rampant misuse of telework that has turned government buildings into ghost towns,” Ernst told. “It’s no surprise that those crafting teleworking policies under Biden were among the most egregious offenders.”
“I’m now collaborating with the Trump administration to reassess the federal portfolio of vacant, underused buildings, which cost taxpayers billions annually, and to ensure that bureaucrats are back to working in their offices,” she added. “We need to constantly seek ways to enhance efficiency in Washington and protect taxpayer money!”
In just one year, federal employees spent 2.6 million hours on self-negotiation while on the clock, costing taxpayers about $160 million. Biden covered up this expense. I’m putting an end to this nonsense. – Joni Ernst
Ernst’s report from December 5th seeks to tackle the various issues arising from telework, including salary comparisons, adjustments for federal employee wages, and the effect of largely vacant office spaces on the work environment. This aims to ensure telework compensation aligns with that of private sector jobs in specific regions and to address the issues stemming from nearly empty office buildings.
Kiran Ahuja, who was the OPM director during the Biden administration when Ernst sought the review, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
