Federal Telework Protection Act

It would set a formal telework request and appeal process, require a career Telework Managing Officer in each agency, protect requests tied to medical, caregiving, or long commutes, and bar federal funds for directives that would eliminate remote work.

• Federal employees: They could submit telework requests to supervisors who must approve or deny with a clear number of telework days and a defined period. Employees with urgent medical conditions would get 10 to 15 business days of telework while a request is considered and requests are deemed approved if no decision in 90 days.
• Agencies and supervisors: Each executive agency would create a telework office, appoint a senior career Telework Managing Officer with access to the agency head, update and publish telework policies, and handle appeals and confidential medical information.
• Labor and unions: The bill preserves existing collective bargaining agreements and allows post-enactment bargaining over telework terms.
• Presidential and agency directives: It would bar federal funds from implementing the January 20, 2025 'Return to In Person Work' memorandum or any directive that would eliminate remote work.
• Oversight: The Office of Personnel Management must report to Congress one year after enactment and annually on approvals, denials, medical-based requests, and pending requests.