Tester bill to cut government waste and save millions passes committee

Senate committee unanimously passes Senator’s administrative leave reform

(U.S. Senate)-Senator Jon Tester released the following statement after the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously passed his legislation to cut government waste and save taxpayers millions of dollars:

“When federal employees are sent home for long periods of time and aren’t working, taxpayers shouldn’t be the ones paying the bill. This bill holds federal agencies accountable, protects employees’ rights, and reduces millions in government waste.”

Tester’s bill, the Administrative Leave Act, will curtail federal agencies’ ability to abuse extended paid leave, known as administrative leave, for employees awaiting the results of an investigation.

In 2014, the Departments of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs spent over $40 million on employees placed on administrative leave for one month or longer. According to the Washington Post, over 57,000 civilian employees of the Department of Homeland Security were put on administrative leave between Fiscal Years 2011-2013.

You can read more about Tester’s bill here.