House Democrats’ bill would reverse federal return-to-office order
- H.R. 10713 would bar funds for the January 2025 return-to-office memo.
- Supervisors would have 90 days to decide on a telework request.
- Urgent medical cases could get up to 15 days of interim telework.
- Half a dozen House Democrats offered the bill, with union backing.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — A bill in the U.S. House would block funding for the presidential memorandum that largely ended telework for federal employees, restoring some remote work policies in place before the second Trump administration. It would also give staff new grounds to request telework for medical conditions, caregiving and commuting time.
Overriding the return-to-office memo
The bill, H.R. 10713, was offered by half a dozen House Democrats and is backed by federal employee unions, according to FedWeek. It states that no federal funds may be used to implement the Jan. 20, 2025, “Return to In Person Work” memorandum or any later order to eliminate remote work arrangements.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance on the memo said offsite work “has led to poorer government services.” The bill takes the opposite view, stating that telework “improves and facilitates the efficient accomplishment of operations of the Government.”
New rules for telework requests
Supervisors would have to consider medical or disabling conditions when an employee asks to telework, and grant up to 15 days of interim telework “if practicable” when a condition is urgent. They would also have to weigh requests based on caregiving responsibilities or commuting time.
Decisions would have to be in writing, and a request left without a decision for 90 days “shall be deemed approved.” Agencies would need telework offices to hear appeals, which could then go to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and could not take adverse action against employees for asking.
The bill would also reinstate previously negotiated union clauses on telework, such as when it can be canceled, and allow future bargaining over its conditions. Agencies would have to post their telework policies publicly.
Long odds in Congress
The bill faces opposition from the White House and Republican congressional leaders, with few prospects of movement while the GOP controls Congress, FedWeek reported. That could change after the upcoming elections, though the threat of a veto would remain.
For employers, the fight mirrors the private-sector debate over where work gets done and who decides. Companies building remote work policies, or hiring distributed staff through an employer of record (EOR), can compare providers on the top BPO companies worldwide list.
Related news
- Return-to-office costs workers $6,736 a year: Resume.io · 8 Oct
- Drugmaker settles EEOC charge over remote work for Indian staff · 7 Oct
- Federal workers report lower productivity after RTO · 7 Aug
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