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House Oversight report says telework is ‘wasting billions’ in taxpayer cash ahead of 1st hearing

House Oversight report says telework is ‘wasting billions’ in taxpayer cash ahead of 1st hearing

FIRST ON FOX: The House Oversight Committee found that prolonged pandemic-era telework has been “detrimental” to government agencies and new employee training, and it laid out in a new report proposed recommendations for the Trump administration to bring federal workers back to unused and vacant federal office buildings.  Fox News Digital obtained the House Oversight Committee’s report on the Biden-Harris administration’s policy of keeping federal workers in a telework, work-from-home format, even after COVID restrictions were lifted across the country and private-sector workers returned to in-person work settings. ‘GET BACK TO WORK’: HOUSE OVERSIGHT TO TAKE ON GOVERNMENT TELEWORK IN 1ST HEARING OF NEW CONGRESS The report, titled “The lights are on, but everyone is at home: Why the new administration will enter largely vacant federal agency offices,” is 41 pages and was prepared by Republicans on the committee. During the last Congress, the committee investigated the extent of federal telework and remote work, the degree of oversight over its use and its impact on mission outcomes. The committee found that American taxpayers wasted “billions to pay for owned and leased federal office space that remains largely vacant.”  The report states that “physical and anecdotal evidence suggests the [Biden] Administration’s self-reported telework data exaggerates in-office attendance.”  “But even the self-reported data is striking: of the 2.28 million federal civilian employees, approximately 228,000 are never required to show up to the office, and nearly all of the other 1.1 million employees technically-eligible for telework are engaged in telework,” the report states. “Further, telework-eligible employees at several agencies collectively spend less than half their work hours in the office—below the Administration’s own RTO target.”  The report added, “American taxpayers are wasting billions to pay for owned and leased federal office space that remain largely vacant. The Biden-Harris Administration did little to reduce the federal footprint despite maintaining massive telework levels.” The committee also found that the Biden-Harris administration worked with federal labor unions and their allies to maintain “unsupportable high telework levels,” which investigators say undermine the ability of the incoming Trump administration to reduce them.  “The lights may be on in federal buildings, but too many federal bureaucrats continue to work from home,” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The House Oversight Committee’s investigation into prolonged pandemic-era telework reveals the Biden-Harris Administration has ceded too much authority to the federal union bosses, allowing their preference to work from home to take precedence over fulfilling agencies’ missions and serving the American people.”  Comer also told Fox News Digital that President Trump “was elected in a landslide to bring accountability to Washington.”  “Our report not only identifies the many problems with massive federal telework but also proposes solutions to get federal employees back to their offices, dispose of unused and vacant federal property, and prioritize the needs of the American people over the wants of federal bureaucrats,” Comer said. “We look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to ensure the federal bureaucracy is fully accountable to the American people.” Comer and committee investigators said the Trump administration should base telework and remote work policies “on achievement of mission outcomes, not employee preferences or union demands.”  They also recommended establishing automated systems for tracking the use of telework and creating “clear, measurable metrics to evaluate its costs and benefits.”  Comer also recommends the Trump administration impose “more frequent and timely reporting requirements on agency-level telework” to better inform executive branch officials and members of Congress.  Meanwhile, Comer also recommends using the White House and central management agencies to implement an enterprise-wide approach to telework that prioritizes the public interest. He said the administration should “not permit a telework bidding war among agencies looking to attract federal workers that transfer between them based on which will let them stay home the most.”  SENATE DOGE LEADER ERNST TO TAKE ON GOVERNMENT TELEWORK ABUSE AT FIRST MEETING WITH MUSK, RAMASWAMY The House Oversight Committee’s report comes just hours before it holds its first hearing of the new Congress.  The hearing, titled “Stay-at-Home Federal Workforce: Another Biden-Harris Administration Legacy,” is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley, Federal City Council Board of Directors President Tom Davis and Rachel Greszler of the Economic Policy Innovation Center are set to testify. O’Malley, before the end of his tenure, locked in telework agreements for 42,000 Social Security employees until 2029.  “It’s past time for the federal workforce to get back to work in-person for the American people,” Comer told Fox News Digital last week, upon announcing the hearing. “The House Oversight Committee remains committed to ensuring federal employees show up for the American people they serve.” NATION’S LARGEST LABOR UNION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES REBUKES GOP’S EFFORTS TO END TELEWORK According to a Senate report authored by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the federal government owns more than 7,000 vacant buildings and nearly 2,500 buildings that are partially empty.  The report also states that government buildings average an occupancy rate of 12%.  During the hearing, the committee plans to examine how the Biden-Harris administration “failed to return federal workers to the office” and that failure could “hinder” the incoming Trump administration’s ability to bring them back due to long-term guarantees of telework in deals signed with federal employee unions.

Dem senator who bashed Hegseth’s qualifications stands by DOD sec who oversaw botched Afghan withdrawal

Dem senator who bashed Hegseth’s qualifications stands by DOD sec who oversaw botched Afghan withdrawal

FIRST ON FOX: A Democrat senator admitted Tuesday that he would support Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s confirmation again if the vote was held today despite Austin’s many controversial actions and repeatedly grilling Trump’s SecDef nominee Pete Hegseth over his qualifications earlier in the day. “Would you vote for Lloyd Austin if there were a vote on him today?” Fox News Digital asked Blumenthal on Tuesday.  “I would support General Austin as Secretary of Defense,” Blumenthal responded. “I did when he was nominated. I would support Secretary Mattis that was nominated by President Trump during his first term. I would not support this nominee because [Hegseth] lacks the financial management skills, the character and confidence, as well as the moral compass.” During the hearing, Blumenthal told Hegseth, “I don’t believe that you can tell this committee, or the people of America that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you as the spokesperson for the Pentagon. I don’t dispute your communication skills, but I believe that we are entitled to the facts here.” TRUMP TEAM FIRES BACK AFTER DEM SENATOR DECLARES ‘THE FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING’ Austin has been widely criticized by conservatives, as well as some Democrats, for presiding over the chaotic and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan as well as several other perceived missteps during his tenure, including a situation where he was forced to directly apologize to President Biden for not informing him that he was hospitalized.  “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin oversaw the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, let the Chinese make rapid advancements to catch up to our defense capabilities, went MIA for days leaving the Pentagon without a leader, prioritized DEI policies over defense needs, and allowed Biden’s policy of appeasement,” GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X on Tuesday. “We need a DECISIVE leader who can focus the Department of Defense on its mission of protecting America. We need Pete Hegseth.” Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., an Army veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, unsuccessfully handed Austin articles of impeachment in 2023, blaming him for a “25,000-plus recruitment shortage” and saying there were “8,400 people who were unconstitutionally purged from the military … you’ve got pronouns and DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] being taught at our military academies when we need to be focusing on what the next threat is and how we mitigate it.” “Not only do I believe that you should have resigned … I myself perceive this as a dereliction of duty, and I take that very seriously,” Mills told Austin during the hearing before recounting what he believed were Austin’s failures during the Afghanistan withdrawal. “Political optics was placed above the true military strategy, where we should have held Bagram Air Base, held the detention center … not shut down and entrap Americans by taking over HKIA (Hamid Karazai International Airport), the commercial airspace and abandoning thousands of Americans.” BIDEN’S ‘POLITICAL’ AFGHANISTAN STRATEGY GUTTED US CREDIBILITY, ARMY VET CONGRESSMAN SAYS AS HEARINGS BEGIN Conservatives on social media also brought up a controversy from 2010 when Blumenthal was first running for Senate, where he suggested on multiple occasions he had served in Vietnam when he had not. Blumenthal, who received several draft deferments before serving in the Marine Corps. Reserve,  ultimately acknowledged that he had “misspoken” about his record but described those instances as few and far between. “Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, who lied about serving in Vietnam to get elected, berating combat vet Pete Hegseth is a bit hard to take,” Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich posted on X on Tuesday. “Reminder: Sen. Blumenthal lied for his entire adult life about fighting in a war that he did not,” Fox News contributor Guy Benson posted on X.  In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sen. Blumenthal made the case that Tuesday’s hearing was about Hegseth’s record and not his.  “The people of Connecticut have always been clear about my record of military service, which is why they overwhelmingly elected me three times to the United States Senate,” Blumenthal said. “This hearing was about Pete Hegseth’s record of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement that showed him to be unqualified and unprepared to command 3.4 million Americans who protect our nation’s security.” Fox News’ Michael Lee contributed reporting.

Rubio to pitch foreign policy credentials to Senate as he vies to become America’s top diplomat

Rubio to pitch foreign policy credentials to Senate as he vies to become America’s top diplomat

Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is bracing himself for the hot seat as he prepares to sit through the often-arduous confirmation hearing process on Wednesday with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as he vies to lead the State Department under the next Trump administration.  Though Rubio is not expected to get off easy in front of the panel of his colleagues posed to pressure him on everything ranging from the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and a trade war with China, which Trump has threatened to drastically increase, he is expected to pass through more smoothly than other candidates Trump has slated for his Cabinet. In an excerpt of Rubio’s remarks obtained by Fox News Digital ahead of his address to the Senate body, he highlights the security threats that have emerged following the end of the Cold War and the belief that democracy could succeed across the globe and international free trade was the way of the future. “While America far too often continued to prioritize the ‘global order’ above our core national interests, other nations continued to act the way countries always have and always will, in what they perceive to be in their best interest,” the remarks read. “And instead of folding into the post-Cold War global order, they have manipulated it to serve their interest at the expense of ours.” “The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us,” he added.  Senate Democrat Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois already threw his support behind his Republican peer and on Monday said, “Sen. Rubio and I share many similar views on foreign policy and, as a result, have worked closely together in the Senate to move forward with legislation regarding human rights around the world.” SENATE DEMOCRATIC WHIP DECLARES SUPPORT FOR RUBIO CONFIRMATION: ‘MANY SIMILAR VIEWS ON FOREIGN POLICY’ “I believe Senator Rubio has a thorough understanding of the United States’ role on an international scale, has served with honor on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is a good choice to lead the State Department. I plan to vote yes on his nomination when it comes before the Senate,” Durbin said in a statement after a meeting in which they discussed security issues involving Russia’s threat in the Baltic Sea and the NATO alliance.  Trump announced his nomination of Rubio for the top diplomatic job in November, which the senior member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said was not only a “tremendous honor” but a “tremendous responsibility.” “The job of the secretary of state is to execute on the foreign policy set by the elected president of the United States. And I hope to have the opportunity to do it, if my current colleagues here in the U.S. Senate confirm me so,” he told reporters on the Hill.  But Rubio’s commitment to execute the wishes of the executive office could also prove to be his most difficult hurdle, not only during Senate questioning but also in taking up the job should he be approved by the upper chamber.  Trump has repeatedly made clear he expects unwavering loyalty from Cabinet members, advisers in the White House and even military leaders, and reports this week suggest the incoming administration may be planning on clearing house in the National Security Council to ensure the president is only surrounded by those who support his agenda, according to an Associated Press report.  While Rubio and Trump see eye-to-eye on issues like U.S. support for Israel, remaining tough on China and opposing dictatorial powers in Latin America – all of which are unlikely to garner much opposition from Democrats in the Senate – there are issues that could prove tricky for the three-term senator to navigate. TRUMP NOMINEE PETE HEGSETH FENDS OFF DEMOCRATIC ATTACKS AT FIERY CONFIRMATION HEARING Rubio and Trump have a history of exchanging barbs, particularly during the 2016 presidential race. The duo have long patched up their hostilities in large part because Rubio has more closely aligned himself behind Trump, a move that has meant he is no novice when it comes to walking the political tightrope between appeasing Trump and pursing issues important to him. This balancing act became evident on the campaign trail when Rubio was asked about controversial comments made by the Trump camp when it came to U.S. support for Ukraine and how to end the now three-year war. “I’m not on Russia’s side, but unfortunately the reality of it is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement,” Rubio said in a September interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”  Rubio dodged questions on whether he backed comments made by Vice President-elect JD Vance when he suggested Ukraine cede land to Russia and agree to a demilitarized zone along the current front lines. Instead, he said, “I would be comfortable with a deal that ends these hostilities and that, I think, is favorable to Ukraine, meaning that they have their own sovereignty, that they don’t become a satellite state or a puppet state.” Rubio also backed Trump after concern mounted over the now-president-elect’s position on NATO when he said he would encourage any nation, including Russia, to “do whatever the hell they want” to any NATO nation not fulfilling their defense spending commitments. “Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations,” Rubio told CNN’s Jake Tapper in February. “He doesn’t talk like a traditional politician, and we’ve already been through this. You would think people would’ve figured it out by now.” That said, Rubio in 2019 also helped reintroduce bipartisan legislation that would prohibit any president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval, a move that Trump threatened during his first term and which remained a top concern that was echoed by Trump’s former NSC adviser, John Bolton, during the latest presidential race.  Rubio’s unwavering outward loyalty to the incoming president could be tested if he is questioned about the president-elect’s

Trump attorney general nominee Pam Bondi to testify before Judiciary Committee

Trump attorney general nominee Pam Bondi to testify before Judiciary Committee

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to be attorney general in his new administration faces the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning at a confirmation hearing.  Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) in late November after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrew from consideration.  The Wednesday hearing begins at 9:30 a.m., and Bondi will be questioned by both Republican and Democrat members of the committee. ‘WASTE LESS, SAVE MORE’: DOGE CAUCUS MEMBER ROLLS OUT EXPANSIVE BILL PACKAGE AHEAD OF TRUMP INAUGURATION “I hope that the Democrats give the same … courteous consideration to [her] that Republicans did of [Attorney General Merrick] Garland,” Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital ahead of the hearing. “[A]nd I hope people stay within their timeline, because we’ve got to move right along,” he added. Members of the committee include Grassley and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Katie Britt of Alabama and Mike Crapo of Idaho.  Also on the committee are ranking member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as well as Democrat Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Chris Coons of Delaware, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Alex Padilla of California, Peter Welch of Vermont and Adam Schiff of California. Durbin met with Bondi last week but emerged from their discussion with remaining concerns.“In today’s meeting, I raised concerns with Ms. Bondi regarding her record – one in which she served as a personal attorney to President-elect Trump, was a leader in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, and has echoed the President-elect’s calls for prosecuting his political opponents. In addition, Ms. Bondi has a long track record of opposing fundamental civil rights, including reproductive rights, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ rights,” he said in a statement. SCHUMER GATHERS KEY COMMITTEE DEMS TO TALK LOOMING HEGSETH CONFIRMATION HEARING “The role of the Attorney General is to oversee an independent Justice Department that upholds the rule of law and is free of undue political influence. Given Ms. Bondi’s responses to my questions, I remain concerned about her ability to serve as an Attorney General who will put her oath to the Constitution ahead of her fealty to Donald Trump,” he added. The ranking member is likely to question Bondi during the hearing on these same subjects.  On Monday, Durbin outlined several concerns he has with Trump’s pick. “The obvious concern with Ms. Bondi is whether she will follow the bipartisan tradition of the post-Watergate era and oversee an independent Department of Justice that upholds the rule of law. Ms. Bondi is one of four personal lawyers to President-elect Trump who he has already selected for Department of Justice positions. She was a leader in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. She has echoed the President[-elect]’s calls for prosecuting his political opponents, and she has a troubling history of unflinching loyalty to the president-elect,” he said in floor remarks. MEET LEADER JOHN THUNE’S ALL-STAR CABINET AS REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER SENATE MAJORITY The attorney general hopeful met with Grassley in early December, after which he said in a statement, “Pam Bondi is a well-qualified nominee with an impressive legal career, including eight years as Attorney General of the State of Florida and nearly two decades spent as a prosecutor. Bondi is prepared to refocus the Justice Department (DOJ)’s attention where it ought to be: on enforcing the law and protecting Americans’ safety.” The Judiciary chair promised the committee would “move swiftly to consider her nomination when the 119th Congress convenes in January.” SCHUMER DIRECTS DEMS TO PUT PRESSURE ON TRUMP NOMINEES AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION HEARINGS Trump praised Bondi in his November announcement, writing in part, “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore.” “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” he continued. “I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!” Since being picked by Trump, Bondi has received several influential endorsements. Recently, 60 former Democrat and Republican attorneys general urged senators to confirm her in a letter. Further, dozens of former Justice Department officials called on the Judiciary Committee last week encouraging them to confirm Trump’s choice.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveils plan to offer free tuition at city, state colleges

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveils plan to offer free tuition at city, state colleges

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced Tuesday a plan to offer free tuition for certain degree programs at state and city colleges. The governor announced the education proposal during her state of the state address, in which she also vowed to give students free meals at schools, make it more difficult for hedge funds to buy homes, cut taxes for middle-class earners and expand the child tax credit. Under the free tuition plan, New York residents between the ages of 25 and 55 who enroll in associate degree programs in nursing, teaching, technology, engineering and other fields at colleges operated by the State University of New York and the City University of New York would have their tuition covered. NEW YORK GOV. KATHY HOCHUL SEEKS EXPANDED INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT LAWS OVER VIOLENT CRIMES ON SUBWAY The state would also cover the cost of books and other college fees. “When my dad got a college education, our whole family got a shot at a better life — and I want every New Yorker to have that opportunity,” Hochul said in a statement. “Under my plan, every New Yorker will have the opportunity to pursue a free degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow.” Other states have similar tuition programs, and several others offer various discounted tuitions for state colleges. New York residents already receive discounted tuition at the vast network of state and city colleges, which consists of nearly 90 schools, and a program that already provides free tuition at the institutions for residents who make less than $125,000 a year. Hochul also said she wants to address the problem of smartphones in K-12 schools by creating a statewide standard for distraction-free learning in the state. Additionally, Hochul said she will work to address crime, expand mental health treatment services and to strengthen security in the New York City subway system after a surge in violent crimes on the subway. This would include plans to add police patrols on overnight trains and install barriers and better lighting on platforms. NY LAWMAKERS DEMAND SUBWAY CHIEF’S OUSTER AFTER COMMENT DISMISSIVE OF CRIME ISSUE: ‘IN PEOPLE’S HEADS’ The governor’s proposals will be debated in the Democrat-controlled state legislature. She is expected to face a contested Democratic primary election next year. The Associated Press contributed to this report.