Micromanagement Madness—Reject S. 82 Now!

I’m writing to urge you to oppose S. 82, the “Telework Reform Act of 2025.” Although billed as a “reform,” this legislation would greatly undermine the effective, flexible telework policies that federal agencies have successfully implemented—policies that save taxpayers money, reduce carbon emissions, and expand employment opportunities outside Washington. 1. Excessive Bureaucracy and Costs. The bill mandates annual supervisory reviews of every telework agreement—even for long-standing, high-performing employees—and requires agencies to develop new surveys, dashboards, and monthly OMB reports on in-person attendance. These provisions impose heavy administrative burdens that will divert resources from mission-critical work and ultimately cost taxpayers more in paperwork rather than savings . 2. Arbitrary Restrictions on Remote Work. Under Section 2(d), remote workers living within 75 miles of their office lose any right to travel reimbursement unless each trip is individually approved “in the sole and exclusive discretion” of agency heads. This punitive measure penalizes employees for choosing to live—and work—from outside expensive urban centers, undermining recruitment and retention efforts in agencies that already struggle to hire talent in high-cost areas . 3. Undermining Proven Flexibilities. Congress has repeatedly recognized that modern telework arrangements boost productivity and morale. S. 82 second-guesses agency heads and the Office of Personnel Management by micromanaging worksite definitions, performance standards, and security policies—areas where agencies already collaborate effectively with OPM, OMB, and unions. This bill substitutes political oversight for the expert-driven rulemaking Congress intended under Title 5 of the U.S. Code . For these reasons, I respectfully ask you to oppose S. 82 in committee, speak out against these counterproductive mandates, and vote “No” should the bill reach the Senate floor. Thank you for defending sensible telework policies that save money, empower employees, and maintain agency effectiveness.