Bedbug infestation forces urgent evacuation of California Department of Education headquarters

The headquarters of California’s Department of Education has been invaded by bedbugs, forcing the evacuation of several floors of the agency’s Sacramento building.

Stomach-turning video surfaced of the feared blood-suckers crawling along carpeting inside the department’s offices at N and 15th streets, according CBS News Sacramento.

Officials at the state agency confirmed the infestation, saying that employees were sent home, the Sacramento Bee reported.

“Out of an abundance of caution, and due to additional reports of insects in the building, all staff are directed to work remotely effective immediately and until further notice as we work to have the entire building inspected by (the Department of General Services) and their pest control specialist,” read and email to staff from the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The action follows a bedbug sighting at the office earlier this month, when the Department of Education said the insects were discovered and employees were sent home.

An email from the department after the initial sighting said the bugs weren’t found in the area they had first been spotted.

“Following a thorough review, no bedbug activity was detected in any of the identified areas within our building,” officials wrote.

“In addition, both the affected areas and surrounding workstations will undergo deep cleaning.”

Bedbugs are small, flat insects that typically hide in dark cracks and crevices and bite people and animals, feeding off their blood, according to the CDC.

It’s not the first time bedbugs have been found in the department’s headquarters. In 2024, there was another case that forced employees to work from home. It is unclear if the infestations are related.

The pesky problem comes ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s impending return-to-office order mandating that state employees must work from the office four days per week.

Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000, said employee safety is the top priority.

“State workers should never be forced to work in unsafe or unsanitary conditions,” Walls told the Bee.

“Our members’ health and safety are our number one priority, and we expect the State to treat this issue with the urgency it requires.”

The return-to-office mandate does not apply to Department of Education employees, who only have to report to the office two days per week.

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