Records indicate bored feds surf porn sites, shop

WASHINGTON — Federal workers may not have enough to do and are bored, and that’s led some to watch porn while on the job.

Investigation records turned over to The Washington Times through a Freedom of Information request show workers surfed porn sites out of boredom.

One Federal Communications Commission worker looked at porn for up to eight hours a day. Another General Services Administration workers looked at porn and dating sites two hours a day.

Paralegals at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board received more than $4 million in salaries and bonuses, even though they spent time watching TV, shopping online and exercising. They told investigators their supervisors didn’t give them assignments.

Former GSA Inspector General Brian Miller says it takes a strong manager “to stand up and do the unpopular thing: to manage resources efficiently.”

Memos indicate there have been investigations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Commerce Department and the GSA. But workers rarely face prosecution.

Pete Sepp, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union, tells the Times there is no doubt that downtime contributes to federal workplace misconduct.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on WTOP Facebook page.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up