Republican Senators Joni Ernst from Iowa and Ted Cruz from Texas have urged a government watchdog to scrutinize the alleged misuse of telework policies at the Department of Transportation (DOT), as reported by the Daily Caller.
The senators have raised concerns about federal bureaucrats' failure to comply with in-office work requirements, citing allegations of payroll fraud and telework abuse within the DOT.
In a letter addressed to Eric Soskin, the Inspector General of the Transportation Department, the senators highlighted allegations from whistleblowers across various agencies. "[W]histleblowers from the FAA and FRA have contacted us about fraud, waste, and abuse occurring at the department," wrote Ernst and Cruz. They also noted that the head of the independent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has expressed concerns about lax standards in other departments, which complicate her efforts to establish a meaningful office work policy.
The senators' letter also pointed out the DOT's continued posting of 'remote' listings for headquarters jobs, suggesting a disregard for the department's work requirements. Ernst and Cruz have requested a comprehensive review of the impact of telework and remote work on the DOT's ability to fulfill its mission, deliver quality services, manage taxpayer money, and oversee the DOT workforce.
The senators also drew attention to the low attendance at the DOT headquarters. "To date, the cafeteria in the headquarters East Tower remains closed for lack of demand for its services," they wrote. They also mentioned the permanent closure of the Executive Dining Room, a space reserved for DOT political appointees and senior department employees, due to lack of patronage.
This call for investigation follows a previous request by Ernst in September, which the DOT's inspector general declined. Ernst expressed her concerns to the Daily Caller, stating, "Our nation's cars aren't remote controlled, and bureaucrats shouldn't be either. Serving the American people is a serious responsibility and showing up to work is an expectation, not an option."
In an effort to address telecommuting issues, Ernst introduced the Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems (SHOW UP) Act in September 2023. This was part of a legislative package aimed at curbing the "administrative state." She had previously written to 24 agencies, including the DOT, the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the Justice Department, in August 2023.
In her August letter, Ernst cited a media account of a Department of Veterans Affairs employee who attended a staff meeting while taking a bubble bath. She also referenced a case involving a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) employee who allegedly received $25,000 while spending over 730 hours at the golf course or happy hours, as per an August 2015 report by the inspector generals office of the Commerce Department.
The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General has yet to respond to these allegations. This situation underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the alleged misuse of telework policies within the DOT, which could potentially undermine the department's ability to effectively serve the American public.
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