Federal agencies spent over $4.6 billion on furniture since 2020, even though many worked from home

A recent report from OpenTheBooks, a government spending watchdog, revealed that the U.S. federal government spent $4.6 billion on new office furniture since 2020, despite only about half of its employees regularly reporting to work in person. The findings, released on April 8, 2025, highlight a stark disconnect as agencies like the IRS, EPA, and Social Security Administration splurged on desks, chairs, and other items while embracing remote work policies. The IRS alone spent $178 million since 2020, yet only 7% of its workforce showed up daily last year. The EPA dropped $121 million, with attendance hovering at 30%, and the SSA invested $108 million despite just 20% of employees in-office.

Critics, including OpenTheBooks CEO Adam Andrzejewski, slammed the expenditures as wasteful, especially amid calls from the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to curb federal excess. The report notes that hybrid work models, cemented post-COVID, have left many federal buildings underutilized—some at just 12% capacity. Lawmakers like Rep. Nancy Mace and Sen. Joni Ernst have seized on the issue, demanding accountability for taxpayer dollars. The findings fuel broader debates about government efficiency as agencies defend the upgrades as necessary for morale and productivity, even with sparse attendance. (source: NY Post)