Staffers at the California Department of Education were abruptly told today to pack up and work from home after workers reported spotting parasitic insects at the agency’s downtown Sacramento headquarters.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond emailed employees, instructing them to telework while the building is inspected. The directive covers most people who work at the N and 15th streets office and will remain in effect until officials say it is safe to return.
In his message, Thurmond said the Department of General Services and a pest-control specialist will inspect the building, and employees should remain remote unless their duties require on-site work, as reported by The Sacramento Bee. Earlier this month, the department had said a thorough review found no bedbug activity in identified areas and that affected workstations would receive deep cleaning. Workers have since shared images and a short video that appear to show small, apple seed shaped insects inside the 1430 N Street building.
Health risks and what officials say
Public health agencies say bedbugs are parasitic insects that are not known to transmit infectious disease but can trigger allergic reactions, secondary skin infections and mental health impacts such as anxiety and insomnia, according to the EPA. Getting rid of them usually requires integrated pest management steps and professional treatments, not quick DIY fixes, and follow-up monitoring is often necessary. Those health and cleanup demands are a big reason workplaces tend to close affected areas until pest-control specialists have finished their work.
Union reaction and telework context
Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000, called the reports deeply concerning and said members’ health and safety must be the top priority, according to the Bee. The CDE’s telework policy allows eligible employees to work remotely three days a week, and roughly 1,500 people work for the department. It is overseen by the elected state superintendent rather than the governor, which means it is not subject to the governor’s four-day return-to-office order, The Sacramento Bee noted.
What’s next
The Department of General Services will coordinate inspections and any pest-control work while CDE confines affected areas, and officials have not given a timeline for reopening. Because effective bedbug treatment can require repeated visits and ongoing monitoring, it may be days or weeks before the building is cleared for full staffing. CDE said employees whose duties require an on-site presence will be contacted separately with reporting instructions.
