Bean, Ernst Introduce Bill to 'Drain the Swamp,' Relocate 30% of Washington Bureaucrats

Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), founders of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, are introducing one last bill for the holiday season as an ambitious start to cutting government waste: relocating a third of the federal bureaucracy out of Washington, D.C.

Rep. Bean's bill is named the "Decentralizing and Re-organizing Agency Infrastructure Nationwide To Harness Efficient Services, Workforce Administration, and Management Practices (DRAIN THE SWAMP)" Act, which, as mentioned, would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to move 30% of the federal bureaucracy outside of the capital, selling off the remaining unused office space resulting from the relocations.

Those who stay in Washington will be required to work in person 100% of the time, a move evidently inspired by a tweet from the official DOGE X (formerly Twitter) account suggesting only 456 workers are physically present on average daily in the Department of Agriculture building, which accommodates 7,400 people.

In his press release, Rep. Bean said, "The swamp is thick and deep here in Crazy Town, and I'm here to drain it. It is time to remind Washington that our duty is to serve the American people. I'm proud to join Senator Ernst to ensure the government works for the people, not the other way around."

Additionally, Sen. Ernst referenced an investigation conducted by her office showing many federal employees work remotely and insinuating many avoid doing work altogether, sarcastically saying, "My investigations have exposed how bureaucrats have been doing just about everything besides their job during the workday. Federal employees have shown they don't want to work in Washington, and in the Christmas spirit, I am making their wish come true. Instead of keeping them bogged down in the swamp, I'm working to get bureaucrats beyond the D.C. beltway to remind public servants who they work for. In addition to improving government service for all Americans, we can give taxpayers an extra Christmas gift by selling off unused and expensive office buildings."