Employees at an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office in the northeast Atlanta suburb of Chamblee have been dealing with a severe rat infestation that has disrupted normal operations.
The situation has become so extreme that some workers have resorted to sitting on top of their desks to avoid contact with rodents, while at least one employee has resigned due to the conditions.
Sydney Monger, who worked at the IRS facility on Chamblee Tucker Road for about eight months, resigned after saying the environment became unbearable.
She provided photos and videos to local media showing live rats moving through the building, dead rodents, and droppings scattered across workspaces.
Infestation Worsens After Memorial Day
According to Monger, the rodent problem escalated significantly after Memorial Day. While occasional sightings had been reported before, she said the situation quickly spiraled during warmer weather.
“After Memorial Day they just came out the woodworks. They were just everywhere,” she said. “It’s hot, it stank, they’re pooping everywhere. It’s nasty.”
She also described rats running across employees’ feet and even falling from ceilings. Some of the rodents were reportedly large enough that standard traps were ineffective, despite multiple devices being placed around the building’s perimeter.
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Health and Safety Concerns
The infestation has triggered growing concerns about health and safety among staff. Several employees reportedly began sitting on desks to avoid contact with the rodents. Monger said fear of illness and contamination played a major role in her decision to leave.
“I’m scared to bring something back to my kids, you know? I got babies, I can’t be playing,” she said.
Rats are known carriers of diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis, which can spread through droppings, urine, bites, or contaminated food surfaces.
IRS Acknowledges the Problem
An IRS spokesperson confirmed awareness of the pest issue, saying the agency is working to address it. Officials attributed the problem partly to the age of the facility and the challenges common in older urban buildings.
“Like any large building in an urban environment, it can face pest-related challenges. The IRS is working to investigate and remediate the situation,” the agency said.
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Efforts currently include deploying traps and other control measures, though employees have questioned their effectiveness given the scale of the infestation.
Workplace and Infrastructure Concerns
The Chamblee office is one of several IRS facilities in the Atlanta area involved in tax processing and taxpayer services.
Its location in a busy urban corridor may contribute to ongoing rodent activity, especially during warmer months when pests seek food and shelter indoors.
No clear timeline has been provided for when the issue will be fully resolved. The IRS says it is actively working on remediation but has not detailed specific extermination plans, repair work, or whether staff will be relocated temporarily.
