The U.S. Office of Special Counsel on June 29 said it had instructed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to launch a probe.

The number of telework days granted to each eligible employee will vary depending on the needs of the agency.

The agency removed a spreadsheet containing personal details including vaccination status following an internal investigation.

Tensions between staff and management have flared in recent months over the use of legacy technology.

The union says the agency has failed to bargain sufficiently over the return of staff to the office.

Sources say a lack of access to secure file sharing technology has increased pressure from management to return to the office.

The intervention comes after OPM Director Kiran Ahuja sent an email to staff saying they would return to the office on April 25.

No AFGE bargaining unit staff will be required to return to the office until May 2.

Lawmakers on two House committees seek an ‘immediately executable’ plan for returning staff to in-person work.

The decision comes in light of new COVID-19 data and follows two unfair labor practice charges filed by the AFGE.