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How the Federal Government Wasted Billions Spent on Office Furniture

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a U.S. law allowing the public to request access to records from federal government agencies.

Data from their website reveals that the federal government has spent billions on new office furniture since 2020, while most government employees have remained working at home.

FOIA shows that $4.6 billion was spent on furniture during the pandemic timeline.

Here is a list of some of the federal agencies’ top wasteful furniture spending since 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spent $237,960 on solar-powered picnic tables.

The State Department spent $120,000 on brand-new Ethan Allen leather recliners for its embassy in Islamabad.

The Securities and Exchange Commission spent $26 million on furniture for its conference rooms and held its meetings on Zoom.  

DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, spent $250,000 on a conference room and expensive Herman Miller furniture.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also bought $284,000 in Herman Miller furniture for its headquarters conference center.

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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has 1,000 employees. FOIA data shows the government agency purchased $14.4 million worth of new furniture for its employees, roughly $14,400 per employee.

According to FOIA, the Environmental Protection Agency reduced over 300,000 square feet in some of its office space but increased its office furniture by $6.5 million, moving into smaller offices.

“Taxpayers flipping the bill for government employees to work from home but continue to splurge on furniture purchases doesn’t make sense,” said David Williams from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

Other agencies that were included of waiting dollars on new office furniture since 2020.

Transportation used just 9% of its office space but spent $55 million on furniture.

Agriculture used just 9% of its office space and $57 million on furniture.

Veterans Affairs used just 16% of its office space but spent $428 million on new furniture.

Defense used 23% of its space and spent $1.2 billion on furniture. Had it occupied 100%, would it have spent $4.8 billion?

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