New proposal aims to create a public directory detailing the roles, pay, and duties of U.S. federal employees.
Washington, D.C., United States, 17 December 2025 – A new piece of legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate is renewing attention on transparency and accountability within the federal workforce. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa has proposed a bill that would require the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to create and maintain a public, searchable directory of federal government employees.
The proposed law, formally titled the Where’s the Workforce at Listed by Duties and Office Act, or Where’s WALDO Act, would make basic information about federal employees available to the public. This would include names, job titles, agencies, office locations, salaries, and general job descriptions.
The bill follows the release of a recent report by Open The Books, a nonprofit organization that tracks government spending. The report analyzed federal payroll data for the 2024 fiscal year and found that the size and cost of the federal workforce have continued to grow over the past several years.
According to the findings, the federal civil service workforce includes approximately 2.9 million employees, with a total payroll of around $270 billion annually, excluding benefits. When benefits are included, total costs rise by roughly 30 percent. While the number of employees increased by about 5 percent since 2020, overall payroll spending grew at a much faster rate.
The data also highlighted that hundreds of thousands of federal employees earn six-figure salaries, with nearly 800,000 workers making $100,000 or more per year. A smaller group earns significantly higher compensation, with almost 1,000 federal employees receiving salaries above $400,000 annually.
Supporters of the proposed legislation argue that greater transparency would help taxpayers better understand how public funds are being spent and where government resources are allocated. They say a centralized directory would reduce confusion, improve oversight, and increase public trust in government operations.
The bill also addresses concerns raised in the Open The Books report about limited visibility into certain government roles. The organization noted that some employee names and details were not fully disclosed in publicly available records, making it difficult to assess workforce distribution and costs.
If passed, the Where’s WALDO Act would require federal agencies to regularly update employee information and ensure it is accessible to the public in a standardized format. The proposal does not change pay structures or employment conditions but focuses solely on transparency and reporting.
The legislation enters a broader national conversation around government efficiency, public accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer funds. As lawmakers review the proposal, discussions are expected to continue about how best to balance transparency, privacy, and operational needs within the federal workforce.
