Polk Times

Congressman Scott Franklin of Florida and Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa have reintroduced the Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act. This legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding taxpayer-funded union time (TFUT) by mandating federal agencies to report how taxpayer money is used for union-related activities during official work hours. The bill's proponents argue that these activities often conflict with the interests of the American public.

"Taxpayers shouldn’t pay for empty federal office buildings or for federal employees to unionize on the clock. It’s just common sense — Americans deserve a full, detailed account of how bureaucrats use both their official time and office space for union-related work,” said Congressman Scott Franklin. “This is exactly the kind of waste and abuse my friend, Senator Joni Ernst, and I are fighting to root out alongside the Trump Administration."

Senator Joni Ernst added, “Bureaucrats have forgotten that they serve the American people not themselves. Taxpayers deserve to know just how much of their hard-earned money is footing the bill for the insane practice of taxpayer-funded union time."

The measure was first introduced in 2024 but has been strengthened in this Congress to expand reporting requirements. Federal agencies will now be required to submit detailed annual reports covering various aspects such as costs, employee data, compensation for union-related work, and more. The Government Accountability Office will also conduct audits every four years.

According to a report from Fiscal Year 2019, taxpayers spent at least $160 million on TFUT. These funds covered hours when federal employees were engaged in negotiating union perks instead of performing their primary duties.

Previously, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published annual reports on TFUT costs. However, under the Biden Administration, updates ceased, and past records were removed. Recently, it was agreed by the Trump Administration that OPM would resume tracking and disclosing these costs.

Franklin and Ernst have actively pursued this issue through various efforts. Last year they addressed Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su regarding protests by federal employees against stricter telework policies organized by the American Federation of Government Employees.