The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unveiled a Senate investigation revealing that only 6% of federal employees consistently work in person. The findings, presented during the caucus’s first meeting, shed light on the extensive reliance on remote work across federal agencies.
Led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), the report described Washington, D.C., as nearly empty, with federal offices averaging just 12% occupancy. Ernst criticized the inefficiency, stating, “We need to flip Washington on its head and demand accountability from federal employees.”
DOGE co-chair Elon Musk added his voice to the criticism, pointing out that absenteeism in the federal workforce is worse than reported. “If you exclude security guards & maintenance personnel, the number of government workers who show up in person and do 40 hours of work a week is closer to 1%!” Musk wrote in a social media post.
The investigation also revealed that nearly one-third of federal employees work entirely remotely, a stark contrast to pre-pandemic figures when only 3% teleworked daily. The report highlighted the adverse impact on public services, noting increased backlogs, unanswered inquiries, and missed appointments.
Further complicating matters, the report exposed widespread abuse of locality pay. Some remote workers inflated their salaries by claiming higher pay rates for office locations where they no longer reside, with Ernst’s audit finding up to 68% of employees in some agencies benefiting from these discrepancies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the findings unacceptable, stating, “Federal workers must return to their desks. This is a priority for the new administration.” As DOGE leaders push for reforms, the pressure to restore accountability in the federal workforce continues to mount.
