James Comer U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 1st district | Official U.S. House Headshot
James Comer U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 1st district | Official U.S. House Headshot
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer has initiated the first hearing of the 119th Congress, focusing on telework policies within the federal workforce. The hearing, titled “The Stay-at-Home Federal Workforce: Another Biden-Harris Legacy,” examines the Biden Administration's collaboration with Democrat-supported federal labor unions to maintain a remote federal workforce.
Chairman Comer emphasized President Trump's commitment to reversing these telework policies upon taking office next week. "President Trump is going to change the way Washington works and will bring accountability to the unelected federal bureaucracy," he stated.
Comer criticized the current administration for failing to end pandemic-era telework, resulting in underutilized office spaces. He cited reports indicating that major federal agency headquarters are significantly under-occupied, with occupancy rates as low as 12 percent according to a study by the Public Buildings Reform Board.
Comer noted that while some federal employees have continued in-person work throughout the pandemic, many still work remotely. "Nearly 228,000 federal employees work entirely from home," he said, highlighting concerns about productivity and service delivery.
He also referenced an agreement signed by former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley extending telework arrangements through October 2029 for over 40,000 SSA union members. Comer questioned whether such agreements align with democratic principles following President Trump's electoral mandate.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) was mentioned regarding its decision to recall staff back to union headquarters in preparation for anticipated changes under Trump's administration. An AFGE spokesman told The Washington Post that returning was necessary "to ensure that the staff is fully prepared."
Comer concluded by expressing his intent to collaborate with President Trump in bringing federal employees back into offices, stating that "federal workers must SHOW UP" for their duties.
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