Comer calls out Biden’s ‘failure’ to get federal employees to return to the office, vows to get it done

Join Fox News for access to this content

Unfortunately, it seems that you have reached your maximum number of articles. But don’t worry, you can easily continue reading by logging in or creating a free account. By entering your email and clicking continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Make sure to enter a valid email address. If you are having trouble, you can click here for assistance.

During the first hearing of the 119th Congress, Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., didn’t hold back when it came to criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of federal employees returning to the office. Comer expressed his disappointment in the administration’s failure to end telework and bring federal employees back to their physical workspaces.

As the transition of power approaches in Washington, the Oversight Committee’s report sheds light on the situation. According to the report, as of May 2024, over a million telework-eligible federal employees were only in the office three times a week, with an additional 228,000 employees working remotely and never coming into the office at all.

The report, titled “The lights are on, but everyone is at home: Why the new administration will enter largely vacant federal agency offices,” prepared by Republicans on the committee, argues that telework policies have had a negative impact on government agencies.

During the hearing, Comer called out Democrats, specifically Sen. Chuck Schumer, for allegedly neglecting the Show Up Act, which aims to bring federal employees back to their pre-pandemic levels of telework. The committee’s report also highlights the economic consequences of the current telework policies on Washington, DC, as Mayor Muriel Bowser has been vocal about the lack of foot traffic in the city.

The report points out that President-elect Trump is inheriting a workforce that is largely absent from their office spaces due to the telework policies implemented by the Biden administration. It emphasizes the waste of taxpayer money on maintaining empty office spaces and the economic devastation caused by the lack of foot traffic in the city.

Mayor Bowser’s meeting with President-elect Trump to discuss the underutilized federal buildings in the city reflects her desire for Washington, DC to be a vibrant and bustling capital. The report also acknowledges Trump’s efforts to bring federal employees back to their offices to deliver for the American people, rather than relying on widespread lockdowns.

In conclusion, the report highlights the importance of having federal employees return to their physical workspaces to boost productivity and economic activity in Washington, DC. Join Fox News now to stay updated on this developing story.

Brooke Singman contributed to this report.