Oversight Committee Slams Biden Telework Policy, Citing Detrimental Impact

Oversight Committee Slams Biden Administration's Telework Policy

The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), held its first hearing of the 119th Congress, focusing on the Biden administration's "failure" to bring federal employees back to the office. Comer criticized the administration's telework policy, citing its detrimental impact on government agencies and the local economy.

Why the new administration will enter largely vacant federal agency offices," highlights the low occupancy rates in federal agency headquarters. According to the report, as of May 2024, over 1 million telework-eligible federal employees were in-office only three times a week, while another 228,000 never came to the office at all.

Comer specifically criticized Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for letting the Show Up Act, which would bring federal employees' telework back to pre-pandemic levels, languish. He also pointed to studies showing that many federal agency headquarters in the DC area were less than 25% occupied, resulting in wasted taxpayer money on unused office space.

The report further argues that the telework policy has led to a lack of foot traffic in DC, causing economic hardship for the city. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been vocal in her criticism of the policy, even meeting with President-elect Trump to discuss potential solutions for underutilized federal buildings.

While the report acknowledges that President Trump initially implemented telework policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, it emphasizes his efforts to return federal employees to offices once it became clear that widespread lockdowns were not necessary.

The committee's findings raise concerns about the long-term impact of the Biden administration's telework policy on government efficiency and the local economy. It remains to be seen how President-elect Trump will address these issues and whether he will implement changes to the current telework policies.