Warnock Requests Safe Working Conditions for Atlanta IRS Employees Due to Rat Infestation

Senator Reverend Warnock asked U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano to allow IRS Chamblee campus employees to work remotely, given severe rat infestation

The request comes as the IRS Atlanta campus deals with a severe rat and cockroach infestation

According to the National Treasury Employees Union, "Employees are made to endure desks covered in rat urine and feces"

Senator Reverend Warnock: "I'm appalled and disgusted by the working conditions that IRS employees at the Atlanta campus face. I'm urging Secretary Bessett and IRS CEO Bisignano to remedy the situation as quickly as possible."

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), joined by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and U.S. House Representative Hank Johnson Jr. (D-GA-04), are requesting for U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano to allow employees at the IRS Atlanta campus to work remotely while the IRS combats a rat and cockroach infestation that has plagued the office for weeks.

"I'm appalled and disgusted by the working conditions that IRS employees at the Atlanta campus currently face. Every employee should feel safe and comfortable in their working environment, and that's just not the case right now at the IRS Atlanta campus," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "I'm urging Secretary Bessett and IRS CEO Bisignano to remedy the situation as quickly as possible."

In a letter, the lawmakers request that the IRS consider employees' requests to allow telework during the remediation process and to close the IRS Atlanta campus until it has been thoroughly cleaned and determined safe for occupancy.

According to news reports and a statement by the National Treasury Employees Union, the facility has been infested with rats and cockroaches for several weeks, with IRS employees sharing photos and videos of living and dead rats, rat droppings, and rat traps throughout the office complex. Employees have resorted to sitting on their desks to avoid the office floor.

Employees have also fallen ill from exposure to rodent-borne diseases, forcing some staff members to resign from their positions. Constituents have also expressed concern over the conditions at the facility.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup presents an opportunity for the IRS to shift to a teleworking model until the situation has been resolved. A June 2026 memorandum from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management notes that federal agencies with offices in World Cup host cities, like Atlanta, have the "authority to approve situational/unscheduled telework and other workforce flexibilities."

A copy of the letter can be found HERE, and the text is below:

Dear Secretary Bessent and Chief Executive Officer Bisignano:

We are writing to urge you to take all steps necessary to address the ongoing rat and cockroach infestation at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Atlanta Campus in Chamblee, Georgia. We ask that the IRS give full and fair consideration of employees' requests to close the facility until it has been thoroughly cleaned and determined safe for occupancy and to telework during the remediation process. We also ask that IRS provide a briefing to our offices on the IRS' specific plan to address this occupational health and safety issue.

According to local news reporting and a statement by the National Treasury Employees Union, the IRS Atlanta Campus in Chamblee has been infested with rats and cockroaches for several weeks. IRS employees have shared photos and videos of living and dead rats, rat droppings, and rat traps throughout the office complex, as well as employees sitting on their desks to avoid the office floor. This infestation has led to employees falling ill from exposure to rodent-borne diseases and has forced some staff members to resign from their positions. Our offices have also received a number of concerning messages from constituents on this matter.

While we are glad to hear that IRS is beginning steps to remediate the situation, our understanding is that this work is only in its initial stages and not yet complete.

Employees at the IRS Atlanta Campus have requested that the IRS close the Chamblee office and move to a full telework posture until it eliminates the infestation. As the IRS considers their requests, we also call your attention to a June 2026 memorandum from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which reminds federal agencies with offices in a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city - such as Atlanta - of their "authority to approve situational/unscheduled telework and other workforce flexibilities." Given that teleworking is an appropriate response to "significant increases in traffic congestion and commuting delays" from the World Cup, we believe the IRS should also use its "sole and exclusive discretion" to enable teleworking in response to this pressing occupational health and safety hazard.

Therefore, we ask that you take all steps necessary to eradicate the rat and cockroach infestation at the IRS Atlanta Campus, including taking full and fair consideration of employees' requests to close the facility until it has been thoroughly cleaned and determined safe for occupancy and to telework during the remediation process. Please provide our offices with an update on the steps the IRS is taking by June 23, 2026.

Sincerely.

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