GOP pressures Biden to recall federal workers to the office on Labor Day.
Conservatives Push for an End to Remote Work for Federal Employees
Conservatives are ramping up their efforts to pressure the Biden administration into scrapping remote work for thousands of federal employees. Lawmakers, predominantly Republicans, have been advocating for the return of the federal workforce to the office throughout the year. Even local elected officials from the Washington, D.C., area are joining the cause.
“The American people deserve to understand the Biden administration’s post-pandemic telework policy and the thinking behind the Biden Administration’s rapidly evolving telework posture,”
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) introduced the Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems, or SHOW UP, Act in Congress back in January and has been on a crusade ever since. The act aims to bring federal employees back to the office within 30 days of passage and requires agencies to submit studies on how telework has affected their mission. It also prohibits permanent remote positions until formal ”telework plans” have been approved.
While the SHOW UP Act passed in the House of Representatives in February, it has made no progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate. President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to bring federal workers back into office buildings, but the process has been slow. This prompted the Oversight Committee to send a letter requesting data and details on telework policies at 25 government agencies.
“By suggesting that in-person work would lead to improved outcomes, your email implies that the Biden administration’s widespread use of post-pandemic federal telework has resulted in reduced productivity, diminished customer service, and worse overall returns for the American taxpayer,”
Republicans have raised concerns about specific services being affected by remote work, such as passport processing backlogs and delays within the Veterans Affairs Department. The slow response from the White House may be influenced by labor unions, which generally support remote work. However, conservatives have found an unexpected ally in local governments, with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser calling for federal employees to either return to the office or vacate the real estate for new housing.
A council representing 23 local governments has also urged more in-person work in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget.
“We employ roughly 100,000 outstanding individuals, and the large majority of our employees work in-person on a full-time basis. For those who are eligible to telework, employees typically report to work in-person two to three days a week. We have found that this strikes an appropriate balance and provides the best level of service for taxpayers.”
The House Oversight Committee has made several requests to Jeff Zients, including an explanation for his call to return to the office and whether the White House is aware of any performance issues with remote employees. The committee plans to hold a hearing on federal remote work on Sept. 14.
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