{"id":15632,"date":"2020-06-15T17:47:19","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T17:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/06\/15\/congressman-calls-on-watchdogs-to-check-reopening-safety-measures\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:40:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:40:54","slug":"congressman-calls-on-watchdogs-to-check-reopening-safety-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/federal-oversight\/2020\/06\/15\/congressman-calls-on-watchdogs-to-check-reopening-safety-measures\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressman calls on watchdogs to check reopening safety measures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Federal agencies have begun to bring employees back into the office<\/a> as states and localities relax social distancing procedures to combat the spread of COVID-19. But some members of Congress have expressed concern that the federal government as a whole has not adequately set measures to ensure that the feds that do return to the office will be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., wrote letters <\/a>to 24 agency inspectors general June 15, asking that they investigate their agencies\u2019 reopening and employee safety measures and report such findings to the House Subcommittee on Government Operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Subcommittee asks that you review whether your department and its managers are employing best practices and existing guidance when deciding whether or when to require federal employees and contractors to return to federal office buildings,\u201d Connolly wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe health and safety of federal employees is of paramount concern. We need to ensure that administration officials are cautious and prudent when requiring federal employees and contractors to return to federal office buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t