IFPTE Tells Members of the House to Vote Against Anti-Federal Worker Amendments in Defense Appropriations Bill
The House of Representatives considered the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2025 with floor amendments that seek to limit telework for some Department of Defense employees and defund President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, “Promoting Access to Voting,” which provides federal employees with needed time (up to four hours) to vote and engage in nonpartisan voter registration activities, as well as improve voting access for uniformed service members.
IFPTE’s letter asked Representatives to oppose Rep. Harriet Hageman’s (R-WY) amendment to deny DoD resources for employees and contractors teleworking if their work may involve confidential information. IFPTE informed lawmakers that “the current DOD telework policy defines the appropriate circumstances for telework eligibility for DOD employees, including a general prohibition on telework when DOD positions require employees to handle classified materials and delineates the circumstances where telework may be performed at DOD-accredited alternative worksites when employees’ duties involve classified materials.”
IFPTE also urged votes against Rep. Claudia Tenney’s (R-NY 24th District) amendment to “bar an executive order that supports democratic principles and civic participation among American citizens eligible to vote.” The anti-telework amendment was adopted on a voice vote with no record of which Representative voted for and against, and the amendment defunding the executive order to improve access to voting was adopted by party-line vote with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 1st District) joining Democrats in opposing the amendment.
The House passed the Defense Appropriations bill by a vote of 217 to 198. Considering the lack of clear bipartisan support and the inclusion of provisions that are not relevant to the bill, it is likely that the Senate Defense Appropriations bill will form the basis for the final bill.