EPA watchdog flags concerns over remote worker data

By Ellie Borst | 05/22/2025 01:32 PM EDT

The inspector general’s report comes as the administration promotes surveillance to ensure employee compliance with return-to-office mandates.

EPA headquarters.

EPA headquarters in Washington. Francis Chung/E&E News

The EPA Office of Inspector General has found pay-equity issues linked to a lack of data on the location of teleworking or remote employees.

At issue: differing pay scales based on cost of living. The IG report concluded, “EPA cannot ensure that employees are paid the correct amount because it doesn’t have comprehensive or reliable data to verify employees’ work locations.”

Michael Molina, the Office of Mission Support’s principal deputy assistant administrator, agreed to come up with a plan to verify each year an employee’s location, resolving the report’s recommendation.

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Heightened surveillance measures have already been implemented, according to a memo Molina sent to employees last month.

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