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| Joni Ernst |
BREAKING: Sen. Joni Ernst Moves to Expose Federal Bureaucracy With New Public Database Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa announced new legislation aimed at lifting the veil on the federal workforce by creating a public database of government employees, including names, salaries, job duties, and agency assignments.
The proposal, formally titled the Where’s the Workforce At Listed by Duties and Office (Where’s WALDO) Act, would require the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to publish a comprehensive directory of federal employees currently paid with taxpayer funds.
Targeting a Growing and Costly Federal Workforce
Ernst’s legislation follows a recent report by fiscal watchdog group Open The Books, which found that the federal bureaucracy has grown larger, wealthier, and more opaque since 2020.
According to the report, 383,000 federal employees across 56 agencies had their names redacted from publicly available payroll data, despite collectively earning $38.3 billion in taxpayer-funded salaries.
“Like a twisted game of reverse Secret Santa, taxpayers are gifting paychecks to bureaucrats who remain anonymous,” Ernst said in a statement.
She added that Americans should not be forced to guess who is working for the government or how their money is being spent.
“The American people should not be forced to play ‘Where’s Waldo’ when it comes to figuring out where federal workers are during the workday,” Ernst said. “I’m creating a list that anyone can check twice.”
Eye-Opening Cost Figures
Open The Books’ analysis of fiscal year 2024 data found:
2.9 million civil service employees
$270 billion in salaries, plus roughly 30% more for benefits
A total taxpayer cost of $673,000 per minute
$40.4 million per hour
Nearly $1 billion per day
The watchdog group also identified:
Nearly 1,000 federal workers earning more than the president’s $400,000 salary
31,452 non-Defense Department employees earning more than every U.S. governor
793,537 federal workers earning $100,000 or more annually
Rapid Growth in High-Income Bureaucrats
The report highlights a sharp increase in top-earning federal employees:
An 84% increase in workers earning $300,000 or more since 2020
An 82% increase in those earning $200,000 or more
Ernst argues the rapid expansion and rising compensation levels demand transparency and accountability.
What the Where’s WALDO Act Would Do
If passed, the legislation would:
Require OPM to publish a public directory of federal employees
Include job titles, salaries, agency assignments, and work locations
Prevent mass redactions of employee data except where legally required
Supporters say the bill would help taxpayers better understand how federal dollars are being spent and restore trust in government operations.
Accountability Push Gathers Momentum
The proposal has already drawn praise from government accountability advocates, with some suggesting the initiative could complement broader efficiency efforts aimed at reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington.
As Ernst’s bill moves forward, it is expected to reignite debate over government transparency, privacy concerns, and the true cost of the federal workforce.
FAQs: Sen. Joni Ernst’s Federal Workforce Transparency Database Proposal
What did Senator Joni Ernst announce?
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced legislation that would require the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create a public database of federal government employees, including names, salaries, job descriptions, and agency assignments.
What is the name of the proposed legislation?
The bill is titled the Where’s the Workforce At Listed by Duties and Office (Where’s WALDO) Act.
Why is Senator Ernst proposing this database?
Ernst says taxpayers deserve transparency about how federal dollars are spent and who is receiving government paychecks. She argues that hundreds of thousands of bureaucrats are being paid with little public accountability.
How many federal employees are affected by this proposal?
The proposal focuses particularly on 383,000 federal employees whose names were redacted from publicly available payroll data across 56 federal agencies.
How much taxpayer money is associated with these redacted employees?
According to Open The Books, the redacted employees collectively earned $38.3 billion in taxpayer-funded pay.
What information would the public database include?
The database would include:
Employee names
Salaries
Job titles and duties
Office and agency assignments
Who would be responsible for creating the database?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would be required to compile and maintain the public directory.
What prompted this legislation?
The bill follows a report from Open The Books, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog, which found that the federal workforce has grown larger, wealthier, and less transparent since 2020.
How large is the current federal civilian workforce?
Open The Books reports approximately 2.9 million civil service employees, with a total payroll of $270 billion, plus roughly 30% more in benefits.
How much does the federal workforce cost taxpayers overall?
According to the report, federal civilian employees cost taxpayers approximately:
$673,000 per minute
$40.4 million per hour
Nearly $1 billion per day
How many federal employees earn six-figure salaries?
The report found:
793,537 federal employees earn $100,000 or more
31,452 non–Defense Department employees earn more than every U.S. governor
Nearly 1,000 federal workers earn more than the president’s $400,000 salary
How has high-income federal employment changed since 2020?
Employees earning $300,000 or more increased by 84%
Those earning $200,000 or more increased by 82%
Why were employee names redacted in the first place?
Agencies cited privacy, security, and internal policy reasons. Ernst argues these redactions undermine transparency and prevent taxpayers from knowing where their money goes.
Does the proposal affect military or intelligence agencies?
The legislation focuses primarily on civilian federal employees. Any national security exemptions would be determined during implementation.
What does Ernst say about taxpayer accountability?
Ernst argues taxpayers should not have to “play ‘Where’s Waldo’” to determine where federal workers are assigned and how much they are paid.
Has the bill been passed into law yet?
No. The Where’s WALDO Act has been introduced, but it has not yet passed Congress.
What role does Open The Books play in this issue?
Open The Books is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks government spending and provided the data that prompted Ernst’s legislation.
Why is this issue politically significant?
The proposal touches on government transparency, federal spending, privacy concerns, and the size and cost of the federal bureaucracy — all major issues in current fiscal debates.
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