WASHINGTON –– House Republicans Wednesday proposed a ban on telework by federal workers after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to fire any teleworkers.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, R–Ky., released a report compiled by his staff accusing the Biden administration of wasting billions of tax-payer dollars on office spaces that were vacant because the trend of telework continued long after the pandemic.
Coming just five days before Trump’s second inauguration, the debate over telework for federal employees showed Congress’ determination to carry out Trump’s agenda.
The proposed ban came after Trump vowed to fire all federal employees who continue to work from home. Democrats at the committee hearing warned that the American people and especially those who rely on Social Security would get worse service from the federal government, in part because many federal workers would quit.
The Social Security Administration has the highest rate of teleworking employees. Over 50% of Social Security employees still utilize telework, with 98% eligible for it.
Trump’s statement came after former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Martin O’Malley signed an agreement in October to continue telework options for tens of thousands of staffers into 2029.
“Social security is struggling to serve more customers than ever. There is a growing mismatch between rising customers and declining staff,” O’Malley said, referring to previous staff cuts.
Meanwhile, conservative representatives said telework makes agencies less efficient.
“Wait times are high because your staff is at home, not working for the American people,” countered Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R – Ga.
Democrats argued that the proposed telework ban was an effort to follow Trump and his new Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
“It’s very clear that my colleagues across the aisle are doing the bidding of Trump who plans to sign an executive order ending telework,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D–N.M., “It’ll cut the federal workforce by 25% so this is really about purging the federal government.”
Speaker Mike Johnson, R–La., changed seats and began talking to Rep. Virginia Foxx, R–N.C, during Rep. Stanbury’s address.
Rep. Summer Lee, D–Pa., appealed to House Republicans to introduce policy on inflation and more pressing concerns.
“You have a trifecta, this hearing is pointless,” she said, referring to GOP control over the House, Senate and White House.
However, she said that now that the House created a new Department of Government Efficiency subcommittee, Democrats expect more hearings like this.
“We will probably do this same hearing five more times,” she said.