Reps. Meeks, Velázquez, Meng, and Goldman Join IRS Workers to Expose Unsafe and Overcrowded Conditions at Brooklyn Office

Brooklyn, N.Y. – U.S. Reps. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined IRS and CFPB employees to call on the Trump administration to act to immediately address overcrowded and unsafe working conditions at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office in Brooklyn. 

“It is unconscionable that the very federal employees who serve the public each day are being subjected to hazardous, overcrowded, and inhumane working conditions,” Congressman Meeks said. “We cannot allow a return-to-office mandate to become a tool for dismantling vital agencies or forcing out dedicated public servants. IRS and CFPB employees and other civil servants across the country, deserve dignity, proper accommodations, and a safe environment in which to do their jobs. I stand with them in demanding accountability and immediate action from this administration.” 

“What’s happening to IRS and CFPB workers in New York is unacceptable,” Congresswoman Velázquez said. “Since this administration’s return to office mandate, workers are being crammed into overcrowded spaces without proper equipment or privacy, while those with serious health needs are denied basic accommodations. This is all part of Trump and DOGE’s efforts to push out federal workers and tear down their disfavored agencies. These public servants deserve safe conditions, basic respect, and a government that follows the law.”

The Members visited the IRS office last month and heard directly from employees facing unsafe conditions, mobility barriers, and repeated denials of remote work despite medical needs. At the press conference, workers shared their experiences under the Trump administration’s return to office mandate, including being forced to work in overcrowded public interview rooms, returning from medical leave without support, and being denied telework even during chemotherapy and pregnancy.

CFPB employees also spoke about being locked out of their Manhattan office for months, with no access to their workspaces or personal belongings.

During the press conference, the lawmakers and workers called for urgent improvements to working conditions, including legally required accommodations for disabled and pregnant workers, and greater accountability from the federal government regarding the unacceptable conditions at offices like 2 MetroTech.

“Imposing adverse working conditions is not how we should treat those who work nonstop to serve us,” Congresswoman Grace Mengsaid. I support cutting government waste and rooting out fraud and abuse. But that is not what’s happening here. This is throwing our federal workforce into chaos and not treating our federal workers with the dignity and respect they deserve. To all our IRS employees who are impacted, we hear you. We see you. We stand with you. And we will continue fighting on your behalf until this situation improves.” 

“The conditions at the 2 MetroTech IRS office in Brooklyn are illegal and unacceptable,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “A long-simmering problem has now become a full-blown crisis under this administration’s blanket return-to-office mandate, which has forced hundreds more employees into workspaces plagued by mold, leaks, and unsanitary conditions. This is not neglect but intentional: the Administration is trying to make workplace conditions so bad for federal workers that they voluntarily leave and prevent the government from fulfilling its mission.  I was proud to stand with my New York City colleagues and the National Treasury Employees Union to demand immediate action from the Trump Administration to fix these conditions and ensure federal workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

“The IRS has denied reasonable accommodations to our Manhattan members with at risk pregnancies, persons in wheel chairs and other mobility limitations, and persons with acute and chronic illnesses requiring regular healthcare. This is unacceptable and we call on the agency to abide by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, federal law, and common decency and reinstate telework reasonable accommodations."- Autherine Wilson, NTEU Chapter 47 IRS President

“The New York City IRS offices are overcrowded. Many people are forced to work in conference rooms and cramped interview rooms here at 2 Metrotech. Some of my co-workers here are forced to telework, while some of my disabled co-workers have been forced to work without reasonable accommodations. As federal workers, we deserve dignity and respect in the workplace.”- Yeranissa Almanzar, IRS Worker

“I have been employed in the IRS for 38 years. I use a wheelchair to get around due to my disability. I was able to work at the IRS because I had a reasonable accommodation to work remotely until this year. I love my job, can function at the highest levels and have no problems at work as long as I have a reasonable accommodation.”- Larry Rosenbluth, IRS Worker

“By denying IRS workers reasonable accommodations and locking CFPB employees out of their offices, the administration is putting up barriers to us doing our jobs. We just want to do our work and provide the services that Americans count on.”- Jim Savage, CFPB Worker

“The way the IRS is treating our disabled and pregnant employees who need reasonable accommodations is despicable. At Chapter 271, we always have our members backs and will not give up the fight until the agency reinstates reasonable accommodations for our members.”- Kevin Williams, NTEU Chapter 271 President 

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