Government wastes billions on furniture during remote work

A House Oversight subcommittee convened on Tuesday to address concerns over federal spending on real estate assets, revealing alarming figures about government expenditure on furniture and facilities. During the hearing, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Open the Books CEO John Hart presented findings from their investigation showing the federal government’s staggering $4.6 billion furniture expenditure since fiscal year 2021.

To put this figure in perspective, Hart explained this sum could have provided 9.2 million American families with a basic $500 kitchen table. The investigation uncovered several extravagant purchases across various government departments. The State Department allocated $1.4 million for embassy artwork, including two contemporary abstract paintings worth $200,000. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad invested $120,000 in 40 premium leather recliners.

🚨🔥 DOGE Subcommittee Chair @RepMTG opens hearing on the federal government's massive real estate portfolio:

"We are pouring billions into empty office buildings & luxurious, high-end furniture, which they – the American taxpayers – can’t even afford for themselves."👇 pic.twitter.com/JhNft3RaoS

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) April 8, 2025

Hart emphasized the questionable timing of these purchases, noting that federal agencies spent $3.3 billion on furniture during the peak of COVID-19 when most work was conducted remotely. He highlighted particularly concerning examples, such as the Department of Transportation’s $55 million furniture expenditure despite only 9% office occupancy, and the Department of Justice’s $408 million spending with just 35% attendance. Other notable expenses included the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s $250,000 purchase of premium Herman Miller furniture and the SEC’s $700,000 investment in a single conference room’s furnishings.

These lavish expenditures become even more concerning when contrasted with the $370 billion backlog in essential facility repairs and maintenance identified by Hart. The Government Accountability Office’s recent audit revealed that over half of federal employees were either regularly teleworking or fully remote, with 17 out of 24 federal agencies utilizing just 25% or less of their headquarters space.

🚨BREAKING: The federal government spent over $4.6 BILLION on new office furniture in the past four years ALONE…while most everyone has been working from home. pic.twitter.com/7PJVYptU0H

— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) April 8, 2025

In its testimony, the GAO emphasized the financial burden of maintaining underutilized federal buildings. According to their findings, the government spent approximately $10.3 billion in fiscal year 2023 on maintenance and operating costs for its 277,000 buildings. Moreover, the backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs has more than doubled from $170 billion to $370 billion between fiscal years 2017 and 2024.