House bill seeks to standardize federal telework request process

A House Democrat wants to push back against difficulties federal employees have faced when requesting opportunities to telework.

The Federal Telework Protection Act, which Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) introduced last week, seeks to standardize the telework request process across the federal workforce.

Under the legislation, federal employees would submit telework requests to their immediate supervisor, who would then have to consider factors like job duties, medical conditions, caregiving, disabilities and commuting time when approving or denying requests.

If a supervisor doesn’t issue a decision within 90 days, the employee’s telework request would be granted automatically until a final decision is issued. Supervisors could also provide 10 to 15 days of emergency telework for employees with urgent medical conditions while official telework requests are pending approval.

The Democratic-led legislation comes as most federal employees are currently working entirely in-person, due to President Donald Trump’s return-to-office orders in January 2025. Under the Trump administration, there has been a 75% reduction in telework and remote work hours across the federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management data shows.

In the wake of the return-to-office orders, some federal employees began requesting reasonable accommodations to telework, often due to a disability or medical condition. Some employees have accused their agencies of slow-rolling decisions or systematically denying telework requests. Many have faced months-long backlogs to find out whether their requests will get approved.

Two federal employees with disabilities are suing the Justice Department over the issue, alleging that the DOJ’s “blanket” return-to-office orders violated the Rehabilitation Act.

The removal of telework and remote work options has also propelled many federal unions to challenge agencies through arbitration and grievance proceedings and file unfair labor practice complaints, as many collective bargaining agreements contain provisions on telework and remote work.

Over the last several months, many third-party arbitrators have ruled in favor of unions in their grievances over revised agency telework policies, including at the IRS, the departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development, the Social Security Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest Service. Many agencies have appealed those rulings to the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

In addition to standardizing the telework approval process, the Federal Telework Protection Act would require agencies to designate “telework managing officers,” senior-level career officials tasked with overseeing federal telework programs. And if federal employees believe a supervisor did not make a “reasonable” determination, they would be able to appeal a denial of a telework request.

The ability of the federal workforce to telework improves productivity and operations, reduces turnover, promotes cost savings and supports federal recruitment and retention, the legislation states.

After returning to the office full-time, many federal employees are reporting lower productivity, diminished morale and increasing strains on their work-life balance. A Federal News Network survey of federal employees earlier this year found that more than three-quarters of respondents say they are less productive now than they were prior to returning to the office.

“Telework is a proven and necessary tool that helps federal agencies recruit and retain talented employees, operate efficiently and better serve the American people,” National Treasury Employees Union National President Doreen Greenwald said. “The administration’s one-size-fits-all approach has disrupted successful telework programs and undermined the flexibility agencies need to effectively serve the public.”

With limited time left in session for Congress this year and the approaching mid-term elections, it’s unclear how much traction the House legislation will gain in the coming months. Lawmakers are expected to prioritize the annual must-pass defense policy bill, as well as reaching an agreement on government spending legislation before the current continuing resolution expires Dec. 11.

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