{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-demands-transparency-on-hundreds-of-millions-in-taxpayer-dollars-spent-paying-employees-not-to-work", "Heinrich Demands Transparency on Hundreds of Millions in Taxpayer Dollars Spent Paying Employees Not to Work", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Recent reporting from POLITICO states that the Interiorspent more than $150 million on administrative leave for employees in 2025\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum demanding more information on why the Interior spent more than $150 million in paid administrative leave last year, according to recent reporting.\n\n\u201cI write to request detailed information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s (Department or DOI) misguided reductions in workforce under the deferred resignation program (DRP). It is clear from recent reporting that the Department\u2019s downsizing was executed poorly and costly to taxpayers, to say nothing of its impact to the Department\u2019s mission,\u201d Heinrich began.\n\nIn his letter, Heinrich demanded clarity on the Interior\u2019s use of its deferred resignation program, and the total amount the Interior spent on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the deferred resignation program since the start of the administration.\n\n\u201cMore than one year has passed since the Trump administration introduced the DRP, but Congress and the American people still do not know the full extent of its impact,\u201d Heinrich continued.\n\nHeinrich specifically requested that the Interior disclose the number of employees placed on paid administrative leave since the start of the Trump administration, the total amount spent on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the program, and a breakdown on the employees who were offered and accepted the program\u2019s benefits and early retirement.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nSecretary Burgum:\n\nI write to request detailed information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s (Department or DOI) misguided reductions in workforce under the deferred resignation program (DRP). It is clear from recent reporting that the Department\u2019s downsizing was executed poorly and costly to taxpayers, to say nothing of its impact to the Department\u2019s mission.\n\nAccording to a recent report, the Department paid employees more than $150 million in paid administrative leave to stay at home from the start of the administration through December 31, 2025. Of the 1,764 employees put on administrative leave, more than two-thirds \u2013 1,468 \u2013 participated in the DRP and mostly worked in locations outside of the Beltway\u2014from New Mexico to Ohio to North Carolina. Additionally, it appears the Department continues to utilize the DRP. In April 2026, the Department announced a new round of DRPs and voluntary early retirement offers to employees.\n\nMore than one year has passed since the Trump administration introduced the DRP , but Congress and the American people still do not know the full extent of its impact. To understand the Department\u2019s use of the DRP and the total cost shouldered by taxpayers as a result, I request the following data and information by October 1, 2026:\n\nThe number of employees placed on paid administrative leave since the start of the administration. In responding to this question, please provide the office, agency, or bureau the employee works or worked in; reason for placing the person on administrative leave (e.g., DRP); their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; duty station; and the number of days of leave.\n\nThe total amount the Department spent (salaries and benefits) on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the deferred resignation program, since the start of the administration.\n\nProvide the following information related to the Department\u2019s April 2026 announcement of DRPs and voluntary early retirement offers:\n\nA detailed breakdown of employees offered the deferred resignation program and early retirement. Please provide the following as part of your response: which office, agency, or bureau the employee works in; their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; and duty station.\n\nThe number of employees that have accepted the deferred resignation program and early retirement and are now or have been previously on paid administrative leave. Please provide the following as part of your response: which office, agency, or bureau the employee works in; their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; and duty station.\n\nThank you for your attention to this request. Should you have any questions, please contact my staff at (202) 224-4971.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-demands-transparency-on-hundreds-of-millions-in-taxpayer-dollars-spent-paying-employees-not-to-work"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5590949915349483, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}