A Senate investigation unveiled by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) found that just 6% of federal employees consistently work in person, highlighting a systemic reliance on remote work.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who led the investigation, described the federal workforce as increasingly detached from its responsibilities. “Washington is operating like it’s still March 2020,” Ernst remarked, pointing out that nearly one-third of employees now work entirely remotely.
DOGE co-chair Elon Musk criticized the absenteeism, suggesting the situation is even 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 posted online.
The investigation also uncovered financial irregularities tied to remote work. Ernst’s audit revealed that up to 68% of teleworking employees in some agencies claimed inflated locality pay, with some living thousands of miles from their assigned offices.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called for immediate action, describing the situation as “absurd.” Johnson pledged that Congress and the Trump administration would prioritize bringing federal employees back to the office.
As DOGE leaders push for reforms, the report’s findings highlight the broader consequences of absenteeism, including delays in government services and a growing frustration among the public.
