U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for the Biden Administration to halt new labor agreements with federal employee unions. They claim these efforts aim to "Trump-proof" the federal bureaucracy by giving more power to federal employees, contrary to public opinion expressed in recent elections.
Comer and Greene sent letters to 24 federal agencies, urging them not to negotiate or extend collective bargaining agreements during the remainder of the Biden-Harris Administration. They are also seeking information on current negotiations, communications with the White House, and in-person work rates at these agencies.
"The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating whether President Biden’s federal labor policies have negatively affected agency operations and missions," stated Comer and Greene. They accuse the administration of granting excessive authority over agency operations to unions, potentially limiting future presidential powers.
The committee has been examining pandemic-era telework policies under the Biden-Harris Administration, which they argue prioritize union interests over public service efficiency. Despite concessions made by the administration, unions have resisted increased in-person work at federal agencies. This resistance has resulted in telework policies being shaped more by collective bargaining than management decisions or agency needs.
Former Social Security Administration Chief Martin O’Malley recently finalized telework agreements affecting 42,000 employees until 2029. The House passed Comer's SHOW UP Act aiming to revert telework levels back to pre-pandemic standards; however, it remains stalled in a Democrat-controlled Senate.
"In a landslide, the American people have charged President-elect Trump with administering the Executive Branch beginning on January 20, 2025," continued Comer and Greene. They urge an end to negotiations that might limit Trump's ability to govern effectively upon taking office.
The lawmakers assert that these actions could further alienate public trust by suggesting that civil services operate beyond accountability.
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