NASA Grapples with Sparse Headquarters Attendance
Two years after the COVID pandemic, NASA has noticed a significant decrease in attendance at its headquarters. The philosophical question arises: if a government agency's headquarters lease expires and no one works there, do taxpayers feel relief?
NASA's Lease Expiration and Telework Confusion
NASA could be the first federal agency to answer this question. Communications obtained by the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) reveal that NASA's headquarters lease will expire in 2028. The agency is currently evaluating options, including leasing, buying a different building, or constructing a new headquarters, all within the Washington area and close to public transportation. However, a significant challenge lies in determining how many workers the new headquarters will need to accommodate, as the current number of workers attending the office is unclear.
Email exchanges within NASA indicate confusion regarding remote work agreements and telework percentages. Telework Coordinators are reviewing each pay period to identify who is working 100% remotely, the reasons for it, and providing necessary education and counseling.
Telework Trends in Other Federal Agencies
NASA is not alone in this situation. In spring 2023, the House Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce asked 25 agencies to report on their telework arrangements. However, many responses lacked figures on the number of employees currently teleworking. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa has been pushing for transparency in telework and waste from mostly empty federal buildings.
Despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal workers haven't been rushing back to their offices, and the Biden-Harris administration hasn't prioritized their return. Even with demands from Congress and an order from President Biden, the number of returning workers remains low.
NASA's Response to Low Attendance
At NASA, it wasn't until February 2024 that the agency acknowledged the low attendance at its headquarters. It announced plans to significantly condense its space, citing the low daily occupancy and wasteful use of space. In the meantime, NASA plans to go 100% telework until "perhaps May." If the agency moves to a new building, the goal is to have people in the office 90% of the time.
Concerns Over Accountability and Efficiency
In summary, NASA is considering a new headquarters but is uncertain about the number of workers it will need to accommodate. The agency's managers are unclear about their employees' whereabouts, and their solution is more telework. This situation, coupled with the agency's apparent failure in its "Aeronautics and Space" mission and reliance on private enterprise, is indicative of government dysfunction.
This situation further underscores the lack of accountability in the federal bureaucracy and the apparent disregard for taxpayers' concerns.
Bottom Line
The situation at NASA raises important questions about telework trends, government accountability, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think more federal agencies will follow suit? Share this article with your friends and let's get the conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.
