Connolly, Randall, Crockett, and Subramanyam Demand Reinstatement of Remote Work and Telework Agreements for Eligible Military Spouses
Washington, D.C. (February 24, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Emily Randall, along with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Eugene Vindman sent a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell and Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding immediate action to ensure that all federal agencies reinstate or approve remote work and telework agreements for military spouses that were in place or in process prior to January 20, 2025.
“Despite multiple memoranda indicating that military spouses should be considered exempt from the January 20, 2025, Directive, we understand that many military spouses subject to telework and remote work agreements have not yet received clear guidance from their employing agency on how the agency plans to actualize that exemption. Military-connected families rely on telework and remote work opportunities for economic stability, which helps enable these families to continue serving our country. Given the urgent clarity needed for these families, we request that you immediately ensure that all federal agencies reinstate or approve remote work and telework agreements for military spouses that were in place or in process prior to January 20, 2025.”
There are over 2.6 million military families in the United States, many of whom relocate frequently as servicemembers are reassigned to bases every few years. Due to the transient nature of military life, military spouses experience an unemployment rate five times the national average.
In their letter, the Members highlighted Democrats’ history of championing military families, including President Biden’s Executive Order “Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors”—the most comprehensive set of administrative actions any President has ordered to support military spouses—and Committee Democrats’ 2024 investigation into federal agency efforts to eliminate employment barriers and advance employment opportunities for military and civilian families.
Rather than continue Democrats’ efforts to ensure that the country supports military families, the Trump Administration has put those families in a precarious situation. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a directive on “Return to In-Person Work,” which instructed federal agencies to terminate remote work arrangements. This Directive failed to provide guidance for how federal agencies should treat existing remote work and telework agreements in place for military spouses, who frequently rely on remote work to retain their employment as their family moves to a new military base.
While OPM has issued guidance making clear that military spouses should be exempt from the requirement to return to in-person work, military spouses report that telework and remote work agreements that were in place or in process prior to January 20, 2025, have been terminated and they have not yet received guidance from their employing agencies on when these will be reinstated.
Today’s letter urges OPM to expeditiously ensure that federal agencies clarify that any military spouses in their employment may continue to work remotely or via telework without penalty.
Quotes from those affected:
“Working remotely is not matter of mere convenience, an excuse to avoid a commute and stay in the comfort of my home, or a potential opportunity to try and get away with sub-par work performance. It is the critical enabler that has allowed me to continue to serve with genuine gratitude, professionalism, and commitment to my agency’s core values. While I truly wish I were able to join my teammates in-person each day, my spouse’s orders moved us more than 500 miles away; my leadership’s overwhelming support and my remote work agreement make it possible for me to continue to effectively contribute to our office’s mission and goals virtually with no degradation of work product, performance, or reliability.”
“Like many families nationwide, we need two incomes to make ends meet and the ability to maintain my career alongside my husband’s is necessary for his continued success in service. As return-to-office policies and procedures become clearer over the coming weeks, please understand the dilemma of military spouses who will be forced to choose between supporting our families financially, resigning in order to continue to live under the same roof, or my spouse stepping away from military service.”
“On the RTO, the anxiety and stress that has induced is so monumental I don’t even have words. Employees took remote assignments in good faith and bought homes and put kids in school only to be abruptly recalled to their headquarters hundreds or thousands of miles away and were faced with a horrible Sophie’s choice of maintaining family unity and giving up their job or maintaining a necessary dual income and leaving their spouse and kids. The exemption was great but came too late for many who resigned from the stress and lack of clear guidance. Frankly, the exemption is still being challenged by many agencies who are parsing exactly what it means and refusing to implement.”
Click here to read the letter to OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.