Burr Demands Accountability from Biden Admin on Telework Management, Productivity

Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), sent letters to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, the U.S Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh demanding answers on its reliance on and management of telework productivity, following troubling information suggesting that Administration employees are not logging into their government-issued equipment on an average day.

In each letter, Senator Burr requests additional information on virtual private network (VPN) log-ins after each department repeatedly failed to adequately respond to initial oversight requests.

“As the Biden Administration oversees the protracted infant formula crisis, it is apparent that telework in agencies is hindering the government from meeting critical mission objectives,” wrote Senator Burr.

“As indicated in my original letter, I am in receipt of troubling information suggesting that up to one-third of the [HHS] employees are not logging onto their government issued computer equipment on an average day,” continued Senator Burr to Secretary Becerra. “Federal workers receive generous pay and benefits, and the rest of American workers do not have the luxury of being paid while not working.”

“Congressional oversight is about answering the questions Congress asks, not about answering the questions you want to answer,” wrote Senator Burr to Secretary Walsh. “The American people expect accountability and transparency from individuals placed in a position of trust.”

To read the letter sent to the HHS, click here.

To read the letter sent to the Department of Education, click here.

To read the letter sent to the Department of Labor, click here.