High Country Times

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) addressed a letter to the Department of Labor's Acting Secretary Vince Micone. The letter urges the department to resume in-person work promptly.

Chairman Walberg expressed support for President Trump's recent memorandum on January 20, 2025, which advocates for federal employees' return to physical offices. He stated, “The Committee on Education and Workforce (Committee) applauds President Trump’s January 20, 2025, memorandum on returning federal employees to in-person work. This important memorandum sets the stage for the Department of Labor (DOL) to fulfill a request that Committee Republicans have been making consistently for more than three years. On behalf of the Committee, I request you take immediate action to implement the President’s memorandum.”

He further highlighted concerns about operational delays within federal agencies since the onset of COVID-19. “Nearly five years ago, DOL ceased its regular operations to protect its staff from the unknown threats of COVID-19. Since that time, the Biden-Harris administration has slow-walked returning federal agencies to regular operations, and federal employees’ unions have attempted to impede all efforts to return to the office. Meanwhile, federal agencies are not fulfilling their responsibilities to the American people," Walberg wrote.

The letter points out that in Fiscal Year 2024, DOL's Wage and Hour Division completed fewer compliance actions and recovered less back wages compared to previous years.

President Trump's executive order on January 20 mandates all federal departments and agencies end remote work arrangements and require employees' presence at their workplaces.