Army OIG Report Highlights Concerns Over Telework Policies
On Tuesday, the Army Department of Inspector General (OIG) released findings regarding work-from-home practices during the Biden administration, revealing questionable expenditures of at least $665,000 on local government salaries.
This report marks the first release from the Department since Senator Joni Ernst asked 24 government agencies in August 2023 to review telecommuting issues, with some agencies declining to provide data during the Biden administration. Ernst shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation that the report substantiates many of her initial concerns about telework policies.
“From bubble baths to the beach, we’ve seen Biden’s bureaucrats avoiding the office,” she remarked. “Our oversight, along with cooperation from the Trump administration, is shifting things. Employees not showing up shouldn’t be at the taxpayers’ expense. If the Pentagon can’t track its personnel and finances properly, it’s not surprising they’re failing audits.”
The OIG report indicated that the Army Corps struggled to determine how many employees were working remotely due to inadequate record-keeping, various agency-specific policies, and issues with the timesheets used for remote work.
In a December 2024 report, Ernst outlined complications arising from telework, particularly regarding local benefits, which aim to adjust federal salaries to match private sector compensation in specific regions. This report was shared with Elon Musk, who was leading the Office of Government Efficiency during Trump’s second term.
One notable incident involved Army employees receiving inaccurate local allowances for four years. The OIG noted that, “An employee’s work location was wrongly updated in 2020. When asked for documentation, a DCSA HR representative confirmed it was a mistake. They noted they were correcting this error, but the incorrect salary had been paid for at least four years.”
The report concluded that the additional funds were likely distributed improperly. Furthermore, the study only examined those who recorded as telecommuters throughout the pay period. If an employee opted for an improper timesheet code or took time off, they didn’t fall under this review, indicating the actual number of employees affected by incorrect local pay could be even larger.
Ernst highlighted media assertions when the investigation commenced in August 2023. One such story involved a veteran participating in a meeting while relaxing in a bubble bath, and another case featured a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee who billed $25,000 for spending over 730 hours on golf courses and at social events.
