Overview
- The George Washington Carver Center, which houses the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, was first treated for bed bugs in mid-May and staff were temporarily sent home while the building was fumigated.
- Employees who returned reported sickness from lingering fumigation fumes and were briefly allowed to telework, but the insects were seen again and USDA did not approve more remote work.
- Agency managers told staff to report to the office or use personal vacation time if they refused to enter the building, and instructed employees to bag and remove personal items that they say contributed to the resurgence.
- Workers say they fear chemical exposure, bringing bed bugs into their homes, and retaliation if they file complaints with OSHA, and some described the financial burden of treating a home infestation as a major worry.
- Staff and watchdogs warn the dispute over safety and return-to-office rules complicates APHIS’s response capacity at a time it is handling avian flu cases and a New World screwworm threat, and follows recent staffing cuts and a push to end broad telework.