Ernst Drains the Swamp
Bill relocates 30% of the federal workforce out of Washington.
WASHINGTON – After her telework report revealed a chronically absent federal workforce, Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released her DRAIN THE SWAMP Act, which relocates at least 30% of Washington’s federal workforce, requires the rest of the employees to show up to the office 100% of the time, and facilitates the sale of excess office space.
Last week, Senator Ernst, the incoming chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, introduced the Returning SBA to Main Street Act, which relocates more than a third of Small Business Administration employees outside of D.C.
“My investigations have exposed how bureaucrats have been doing just about everything besides their job during the workday,” said Ernst. “Federal employees have shown they don’t want to work in Washington, and in the Christmas spirit, I am making their wish come true. Instead of keeping them bogged down in the swamp, I’m working to get bureaucrats beyond the D.C. beltway to remind public servants who they work for. In addition to improving government service for all Americans, we can give taxpayers an extra Christmas gift by selling off unused and expensive office buildings.”
Click here to view the bill.
Background:
In August 2023, Ernst demanded investigations into 24 federal departments and agencies to determine the impact of telework on the delivery and response times of services. Following her advocacy, the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Inspector General responded to Ernst’s request and is currently considering an audit to examine whether GSA has appropriately evaluated its physical space needs and utilization. A few months later, the GSA announced it would downsize 3.5 million square feet of federal buildings, which would save taxpayers over $1 billion.
In December 2024, Ernst exposed that, almost four years after COVID-19 temporarily closed federal buildings, not a single government agency is occupying even half their office space and called on Biden’s bureaucrats to deck the agency halls with federal workers or sell off unused facilities.
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