Sen. Ernst Gives Biden Officials ‘Squeal Award’, Cites Empty Oval Office, Federal Buildings

The president himself was out of the office 37 percent of the time in 2023, the most of any chief executive in U.S. history.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) speaks before Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes the stage at a campaign event on the eve of the 2024 Iowa caucuses in Ankeny, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients disagree on most issues. But one thing they agree about is the importance of federal workers working in their offices instead of their homes.

In a January 23 letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, Ms. Ernst pointed to the poor attendance levels of President Joe Biden and several of his top appointees as setting a bad example that too many federal workers are following.