Staff Reports
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa is taking charge, sounding the alarm over telework fraud and demanding accountability from the Biden administration. She is targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) specifically, calling on the official responsible for human capital to convene a meeting in anticipation of providing a “blueprint” to the incoming Trump administration. This isn’t just another idle complaint; Ernst is serious about ending the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars.
In a recent communication to Acting Chief Human Capital Officer Sepideh Keyvanshad, Ernst and Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware requested a briefing before December 12 to discuss how to tackle timecard fraud. Ernst has previously raised eyebrows over instances of improper locality pay—money intended for employees with higher living costs—going to a federal employee who claimed Washington, D.C. rates while residing in sunny Florida. It’s the kind of nonsense that makes taxpayers want to pull their hair out.
No, no, no, no, no. Stop this BS, they need to listen to the people they represent. https://t.co/E5dopR1vAa
— Janice Thompson (@JaniceHThompson) November 11, 2024
Ernst’s remarks illustrate the potential for absurdity in government practices. She’s ready to challenge what she colorfully calls “bubble bath bureaucrats,” indicating that the days of freeloading off the public purse are numbered. Ernst has clarified that President Trump’s promise to drain the swamp starts with rooting out those taking advantage of the system. This is not simply about reform; it’s about demanding justice for American taxpayers who foot the bill.
In her letter to USAID, Ernst and Coons underscored the seriousness of the problem by referencing findings from the USAID Office of Inspector General, which has uncovered multiple instances of employees receiving improper locality pay. One egregious case involved an employee who worked primarily in North Carolina while receiving hefty pay adjustments meant for troopers in the D.C. area. The overreach was reportedly to the tune of nearly $10,000. This begs the question—how many more such instances are slipping through the cracks?
Ernst’s commitment to reform extends beyond the fraudulent use of locality pay. A litany of strange behavior among telecommuting federal employees has come to light, including a tale of one employee who attended meetings from the comfort of a bubble bath. It doesn’t stop there; another official seemingly lived their best life on the golf course while still on the government payroll. To end such shenanigans, Ernst introduced the SHOW UP Act, legislation aimed at reversing the remote work policies that gave birth to this epidemic of inefficiency.
Ernst’s activist approach symbolizes a broader conservative agenda that seeks to bring transparency and accountability back into the federal government. As she sets out on her mission, the hope is to combat fraud and waste and restore a sense of duty among civil servants to the taxpayers they are meant to serve. The clock is ticking, and it’s clear that Ernst is ready to spotlight the bureaucratic absurdities that have become commonplace.
