Byron Donalds ‘all for’ mandating in-person work to shrink government
Rep. Byron donalds (R-FL) advocates for a mandate requiring federal employees to return to in-person work in Washington, asserting that this would substantially enhance government operations. He argues that the current telework arrangement allows employees to evade accountability, suggesting that many do not meet minimum in-office requirements. The Trump management announced that federal workers must either return to physical offices or accept deferred resignations, which he supports as a necessary step to reform the federal bureaucracy. Donalds emphasizes the financial strain of maintaining office spaces while employees work remotely, and he claims that many federal workers have left-leaning ideologies that hinder effective governance. Additionally, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted that federal workers could choose to work remotely for a period while receiving compensation, which could result in meaningful cost savings for the government. Other lawmakers, including Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), expressed support for downsizing federal employment in line with Trump’s agenda.Federal employees opting for remote work must inform their employers by February 6, 2024, even though military personnel and those involved in immigration enforcement or national security are not included in this offer.
Byron Donalds ‘all for’ mandating in-person work to downsize federal government
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said mandating in-person work for federal employees in Washington “needs to happen,” arguing that it can pave the way for drastic improvement in the government.
The Trump administration announced that it is mandating federal workers to return in person or accept a deferred resignation, with 5% to 10% of the federal workforce expected to choose the latter. In reaction, Donalds said it was necessary to put all employees of “a federal bureaucracy that seeks its own interest” on notice and realize they cannot stay home and just say “you’re working.”
“We had the office of presidential personnel, I think that’s who it was, and came into Oversight a year ago, and testified in front of the Oversight Committee,” Donalds explained on the PBD Podcast. “And we kept asking her, ‘What percentage of the federal workforce is actually in the office, at a minimum, 30 hours a week?’ She couldn’t answer, she did not have the information, and it’s your job to know who’s where.”
Because of that, Donalds said he is “all for” mandating in-person work for federal employees, especially because many employers are still paying to rent the buildings where people are supposed to work. He added that this would lower the number of employees with their own political ideology, “and typically it is a very left-leaning position,” who oppose lawmakers and attempt to undermine their work.
“So yeah, if you ain’t going to come into work, he’s the chief executive, you’re not going to show up, bye-bye,” Donalds said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the offer to federal workers allows them to either return to the office or be “very generously” paid by the government to continue working remotely for eight months. She also said “tens of millions of dollars” would be saved by offering employees this choice.
Donalds is not the only lawmaker celebrating the downsizing of federal employment. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) described President Donald Trump’s announcement as the president “already delivering on his promises to drain the swamp.” She added that she and Trump would be happy to tell any employee who does not return to work “you’re fired,” a reference to Trump’s iconic phrase from The Apprentice.
Federal employees who choose to accept this offer must announce their intention to resign by Feb. 6. Military personnel, the U.S. Postal Service, and anyone working in immigration enforcement or national security are excluded from the offer.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...