CEI joins ATR to Protect Taxpayers Wallets

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Dear Members of Congress,

Taxpayer dollars should benefit Americans, not subsidize organized labor. Under current law, federal employees can continue to earn their taxpayer-funded salaries while performing work on behalf of a labor union instead of doing their job for the government. This union subsidy is known as “official time” or “union time.” Union organizers are also often permitted to use agency buildings, equipment, and resources at taxpayer expense.

The examples of unions abusing this privilege are many: Prior to the recent termination of collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that nearly 200 TSA officers were working full-time on union matters despite being paid salaries by the government. In FY2019, the most recent year for which the data is available, over 550 employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were paid taxpayer dollars to perform union work. In another case, a union president has been allowed to occupy an executive suite that spans half of a hospital wing at the Salem VA Medical Center at taxpayer expense.

Members of Congress recently introduced legislation to rectify this problem and prevent further squandering of tax dollars. The “Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025,” introduced as

H.R. 1210 by Congressman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and S. 511 by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), would give agencies the power to charge labor unions for their use of official time and their use of any agency resources such as office space and equipment.

The provisions of this bill aim to create a more accountable and efficient government. Legislators must ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and that any misuse is swiftly identified and rectified. As you consider this and related legislation, we encourage you to prioritize the interests of American taxpayers over the interests of union bosses.

Signed,

Grover Norquist

President

Americans for Tax Reform

Saulius “Saul” Anuzis

President

American Association of Senior Citizens

Brent Gardner

Chief Government Affairs Officer

Americans for Prosperity

Daniel J. Mitchell

President

Center for Freedom and Prosperity

Chuck Muth

President

Citizen Outreach

James L. Martin

Founder/Chairman

60 Plus Association

Chip Rogers

CEO

Americans for Fair Treatment

Ryan Ellis

President

Center for a Free Economy

Rowan Saydlowski

Director

Center for Worker Freedom

Sean Higgins

Research Fellow

Competitive Enterprise Institute