Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
FIRST ON FOX: A recent report from a government watchdog group raises critical questions about the state of federal funding as nearly 800,000 bureaucrats earn six-figure salaries. The average payroll of the federal workforce continues to grow, yet Washington struggles to meet basic government funding needs.
Open The Books, a project of American Transparency—a nonprofit organization focused on government spending—released a detailed report on Wednesday. This document coincides with ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats regarding government operations. The watchdog group highlights that the federal bureaucracy has expanded, becoming both wealthier and more opaque since 2020.
The report examines all publicly disclosed federal salaries for Fiscal Year 2024. It reveals a total of 2.9 million civil service employees, generating a staggering payroll of $270 billion, not including an additional 30% allocated for benefits. Since 2020, while the total number of employees increased by only 5%, payroll expenses soared nearly five times that increase.
Currently, the federal workforce imposes costs of $673,000 per minute, which translates to $40.4 million per hour and nearly $1 billion per day on American taxpayers, as stated in the findings from Open The Books. This figure encompasses nearly 1,000 federal employees whose earnings surpass the president’s $400,000 annual salary. In addition, 31,452 non-War Department employees earn more than any governor across all 50 states. Notably, 793,537 individuals make $100,000 or more annually, while those with salaries above $300,000 have experienced an extraordinary 84% rise since 2020. Similarly, the report notes an 82% increase in the number of employees earning $200,000 or more.
Amid their investigation, Open The Books uncovered troubling data regarding oversight. The identities of 383,000 federal workers across 56 agencies were redacted, implying a lack of transparency that amounts to a staggering $38.3 billion in undisclosed salaries. John Hart, CEO of Open The Books, emphasized that accountability cannot be ensured without clear visibility into government operations.
“The Trump administration possesses a unique opportunity to enhance transparency within the administrative state,” Hart stated. He pointed out that while federal employee expenses contribute less to the national debt compared to safety net programs, defense spending, and overall agency costs, they serve as an indicator of governmental growth. Hart critiqued the extent of redactions and blind spots, asserting that taxpayers deserve a much clearer picture of the federal workforce than currently available.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa has joined forces with Open The Books, advocating for increased transparency in federal employment practices. In a September letter to Scott Kupor, the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Ernst detailed her findings of numerous full-time federal employees reportedly receiving dual salaries while working for multiple agencies or government contractors. Such arrangements typically violate legal prohibitions.
Ernst cited an alarming example involving a Department of Housing and Urban Development employee employing duplicity in her roles. This staff member supposedly billed taxpayers for over 24 hours of work in a day by juggling multiple full-time government contractor jobs without proper authorization from management. The senator calculated that the individual incorrectly invoiced taxpayers for $225,866 for work that was never completed.
Additionally, Ernst revealed another case of a human resources official at the Peace Corps who falsified timecards while submitting them to various agencies, leading to double billing for tens of thousands of dollars. Ernst cataloged multiple such examples in her correspondence.
“Until recently, the growth of the Washington bureaucracy was one of life’s certainties, along with death and taxes,” Ernst commented. She expressed pride in her collaboration with the Trump administration and transparency initiatives to help reduce bureaucratic excesses, yet she acknowledged that further efforts are necessary to enhance efficiency within federal operations.
Ernst took specific aim at the financial fallout from the prolonged government shutdown, labeling it as the ‘failed Schumer shutdown.’ She pointed out that taxpayers will be liable for over $12 billion in back pay for 750,000 non-essential federal workers who total over 45 days without employment.
In response, Ernst introduced the Non-Essential Workers Transparency Act in October. This legislation intends to provide the public with clear accountability regarding back pay obligations in the event of a government shutdown. It would mandate that executive agencies submit comprehensive reports to Congress within 30 days of appropriations lapses, detailing the number of employees and contractors during the shutdown, prior year’s total salary payouts, the number of furloughed staff and their compensation, as well as the pay for active employees. Furthermore, it requires that all this information is publicly accessible on agency websites.
The rising costs associated with a bloated federal workforce alongside inadequate accountability measures continue to put a strain on taxpayers. Without addressing these bureaucratic challenges, the fundamental operations of the government remain jeopardized.
As discussions continue about appropriate government funding, the focus must remain on fostering transparency and accountability. This process is essential not only for improving government operations but also for ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently.
