NW Kentucky News

The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has released a report evaluating federal employee telework during the Biden-Harris Administration. The report, titled “The Lights Are On, But Everyone Is at Home: Why the New Administration Will Enter Largely Vacant Federal Agency Offices,” examines the impact of prolonged telework on agency missions and taxpayer costs. It suggests that extended remote work has negatively affected government operations and increased expenses for taxpayers.

During the 118th Congress, the committee investigated federal telework practices, oversight measures, and their effect on mission outcomes. Findings indicate that high levels of telework persisted post-pandemic with minimal oversight or evaluation. This situation has resulted in significant taxpayer expenditure on underutilized office spaces. The report also claims that collaboration between Biden-Harris officials and federal labor unions sustained elevated telework levels, complicating efforts by the incoming Trump Administration to reduce them.

Chairman Comer commented, “The lights may be on in federal buildings, but too many federal bureaucrats continue to work from home.” He criticized the administration for prioritizing union preferences over agency missions and public service. The report proposes solutions to encourage a return to office work and better align federal property usage with needs.

Recommendations include basing telework policies on mission outcomes rather than employee preferences or union demands. Other suggestions involve implementing automated tracking systems for telework usage and creating measurable metrics for cost-benefit analysis. The report advocates for frequent reporting requirements and an enterprise-wide approach to prioritize public interest over agency competition for remote workers.

Additional legislative proposals suggest aligning property footprints with office space needs by disposing of unnecessary properties and renegotiating collective bargaining agreements related to telework at each new presidential term's start. It also recommends paying remote employees based on locality rates to encourage workforce dispersion.

The full report is available for public review.