The House Oversight Committee has released a report highlighting the detrimental impact of prolonged telework on government agencies and new employee training. The report, prepared by Republicans on the committee, revealed that billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on empty federal office space. It also found that the Biden-Harris administration’s reported telework data may exaggerate in-office attendance, with a significant number of federal employees never required to show up to the office.
The committee criticized the Biden-Harris administration for maintaining high telework levels in collaboration with federal labor unions, which is believed to undermine efforts to reduce them. Chairman James Comer expressed concerns that federal workers continue to work from home, prioritizing personal preferences over fulfilling agencies’ missions. He emphasized the need for accountability in Washington and proposed solutions to bring federal employees back to their offices, dispose of unused federal property, and prioritize the needs of the American people.
Recommendations were made for the Trump administration to base telework policies on mission outcomes rather than employee preferences, implement automated systems for tracking telework usage, and establish clear metrics to evaluate costs and benefits. The administration was also advised to impose more reporting requirements on agency-level telework and adopt an enterprise-wide approach to telework that prioritizes the public interest. Comer emphasized the importance of preventing a telework bidding war among agencies seeking to attract federal workers based on remote work allowances.
The House Oversight Committee’s report was released ahead of the first hearing of the new Congress, focusing on the Biden-Harris administration’s telework legacy. Testimony will be heard from former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley and other experts. The committee aims to examine how the administration’s failure to bring federal workers back to the office could hinder the incoming Trump administration’s efforts due to long-term telework guarantees in deals signed with federal labor unions.
A Senate report authored by Sen. Joni Ernst highlighted the issue of vacant government buildings and partially empty properties, with an average occupancy rate of 12%. The hearing aims to address how the Biden-Harris administration’s reluctance to return federal employees to the office could impede the incoming Trump administration’s plans to do so. The committee is committed to ensuring that federal employees show up in person for the American people they serve and prioritize mission outcomes over personal preferences or union demands.
