Effective strategies to address China’s rising global influence must be rooted in accurate evaluations of domestic capabilities. Narratives emerging from conservative figures like Charlie Kirk claim that a portion of federal employees are teleworking and minimally engaged in their roles, which purportedly hampers government efficiency.
Such claims distort the truth about federal telework and could weaken the United States’ competitive stance against China. Kirk’s characterization of federal employees as primarily teleworking, labeling it a “looting operation” at taxpayer expense, represents a misunderstanding of the realities surrounding remote work in the government sector.
Charlie Kirk’s claims on federal telework clash with Congressional Budget Office findings
He has widely circulated a misleading assertion on X that 85 percent of federal employees work from home, reporting to the office only once a month. In response to a follower suggesting that this indicated the need to terminate most federal workers, Kirk replied, “Sounds like an efficient take.”
This viewpoint resonates with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, who proposed that pushing federal employees back to the office could help reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
However, a recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office paints a different picture. By the end of 2022, only 22 percent of federal employees were typically teleworking, a figure that is lower than the 25 percent of private-sector workers who engaged in remote work during the same period.
These statistics challenge the idea that federal employees are teleworking more than those in the private sector. Rob Shriver, the Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, highlighted this discrepancy, noting that 54 percent of federal employees do not telework at all. In comparison, a McKinsey study found that 58 percent of the broader workforce worked remotely at least one day per week in 2022.
Misunderstandings persist, even when clear data indicates that federal telework levels are either in line with or lag behind those of the private sector across various regions and occupations. In urban centers like Washington, D.C., telework rates among federal workers are slightly lower, at 38 percent, compared to 40 percent for private-sector employees.
Data specific to occupations further dispels the notion that government employees are unique in their approach to telework. For example, in the fields of computer and mathematics, 56 percent of private-sector employees telework, while only 37 percent of federal workers do.
This highlights that private-sector employers have adopted telework more widely, particularly in high-demand areas. Critics like Kirk often overlook the productivity gains and cost savings that telework brings to the federal government and taxpayers alike.
The Department of Education, despite being under scrutiny by the incoming Trump administration, serves as an illustrative case. According to CBO research, the department experienced increases in output and cost reductions due to remote work from 2019 to 2022.
Grant disbursements soared from $46 billion to $70 billion, the resolution of civil rights complaints increased to nearly 17,000 cases, and $13 billion in student loans were forgiven.
Charlie Kirk’s federal telework claims spark debate on government efficiency
Regardless of one’s opinion on the department’s functions, it’s commendable that it saved approximately $9 million annually on office expenses while achieving more. This demonstrates the efficiency of telework arrangements, showing that federal employees can produce higher-quality results while minimizing operational costs.
In the context of competing with China, maintaining a strong and efficient federal workforce is vital. China has been investing in technology and infrastructure to enhance its global standing.
To effectively counter these advancements, the U.S. should utilize all available resources, including the flexibility and resilience that telework offers. Adopting telework can help attract top talent in crucial sectors such as cybersecurity, data analysis, and international relations, which are essential to outmaneuvering Chinese initiatives.
However, telework aligns with conservative ideals of fiscal prudence and efficiency. By minimizing the necessity for physical office space, telework can generate substantial savings, allowing resources to be redirected to areas that directly enhance national security and competitiveness.
This strategy not only boosts the government’s operational capabilities but also demonstrates a commitment to judicious use of taxpayer dollars. Despite these clear advantages, skepticism about federal telework remains prevalent in Congress. A recent House Oversight Committee hearing highlighted the depth of these misconceptions among some House members.
When confronted with the CBO’s findings, some lawmakers expressed disbelief. For instance, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.) seemed surprised to learn that federal employees returned to in-person work more swiftly than their private-sector counterparts after pandemic lockdowns. His reaction reflects a wider lack of understanding regarding telework trends.
In a humorous remark, Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) pointed out the irony of his colleagues criticizing telework while the private sector had embraced it at higher rates than the federal government.
Additionally, critics frequently ignore the role of remote work as a valuable recruitment and retention strategy in a competitive job market. The CBO found that many employees are willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for the flexibility of telework, a trend echoed in other workforce studies.
On average, employees are prepared to forgo about 8 percent of their salary for the opportunity to work remotely part-time. Beyond recruitment and retention, telework contributes to improved work-life balance and enhances employee satisfaction, all without sacrificing productivity.
Surveys such as the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey indicate that over 84 percent of participants believe their teams deliver high-quality work and meet customer needs while teleworking.
These insights align with broader research from the White House Office of Personnel Management, which has documented enhancements in performance management, productivity, and employee well-being in agencies embracing remote work. Such benefits are vital for maintaining workforce morale and ensuring high standards of public service.
The new administration must recognize that continuing to propagate myths about federal telework undermines efforts to establish a robust defense against China’s strategic initiatives.
By acknowledging the proven advantages of telework and incorporating it into a comprehensive strategy, the administration could improve the federal workforce’s efficiency, ensure optimal use of resources, and position the U.S. to effectively pass the complications of global competition.
As the Trump administration moves forward to address China’s influence, grounding policies in factual assessments of domestic capabilities is essential. Embracing telework as a strategic asset will not only dispel unfounded narratives but also empower the federal workforce to operate more effectively and adaptively, thus strengthening the nation’s standing on the global stage.
