Allegations that an employee hung a noose in a Treasury Department building in Texas have spurred a union representing 150,000 federal workers to demand congressional oversight, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The noose was reportedly found at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth just days before Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday commemorating the end of slavery, reported the Washington Post.
The National Treasury Employees Union detailed the allegation in a July 16 letter to congressional leaders, according to the Post.
A BEP spokesman said the employee accused of hanging the noose was placed on administrative leave and that an investigation was launched.
He said the bureau maintains "zero tolerance for hatred, discrimination, or misconduct" and that management addressed staff to reinforce its commitment to a respectful workplace. BEP leadership also notified the Treasury Department's inspector general.
But NTEU President Doreen Greenwald alleged that neither Treasury nor BEP leadership has taken meaningful action to change workplace culture through policy or training, and she requested formal congressional oversight to ensure a thorough investigation.
The episode adds to recent scrutiny of BEP's leadership, which faced criticism earlier this year after political appointees pushed staff to produce a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump's image — a move that prompted Senate Democrats to press for a separate watchdog investigation.
