(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) joined Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Chairman of the House Government Operations subcommittee, and 61 House colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to issue an Executive Order mandating telework for all eligible federal employees and contractors.

“We write to urge you to issue an Executive Order mandating telework for all eligible federal employees and contractors,” the members wrote. “With 2.1 million federal employees across the globe, 300,000 federal employees in the National Capital Region, and hundreds of thousands of federal contractors across the country, the federal government can help curtail the number of individuals potentially spreading COVID-19 through an immediate telework mandate.”

“We are concerned, however, by reports from constituents that some federal supervisors continue to deny telework requests from federal employees and federal contractors who have the capacity to telework and can do so while supporting agency mission-critical operations,” the members added. “We believe more can and should be done to ensure the health of our federal workforce, our contractor workforce, and our nation. Telework participation must be mandated.”

In addition to Connolly, the letter was signed by: Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Reps. A. Donald McEachin, Adriano Espaillat, Alan Lowenthal, Alcee L. Hastings, André Carson, Andy Kim, Andy Levin, Ann McLane Kuster, Anna G. Eshoo, Anthony G. Brown, Ayanna Pressley, Barbara Lee, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, Brendan F. Boyle, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chris Pappas, Danny K. Davis, David N. Cicilline, David Price, David Trone, Deb Haaland, Denny Heck, Derek Kilmer, Diana DeGette, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Donna E Shalala, Ed Perlmutter, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Eliot L. Engel, Harley Rouda, Jahana Hayes, Jamie Raskin, Jennifer Wexton, Jimmy Gomez, Joe Courtney, John Garamendi, John P. Sarbanes, Kathleen M. Rice, Katie Porter, Linda T. Sánchez, Lori Trahan, Mark Pocan, Mike Doyle, Peter A. DeFazio, Raúl M. Grijalva, Rick Larsen, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Stephen F. Lynch, Susan Wild, Suzan K. DelBene, TJ Cox, Tony Cardenas, Wm. Lacy Clay, Matt Cartwright, Joe Neguse, Carolyn Maloney, Ro Khanna, Ted Lieu, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, and Brenda L. Lawrence.

The full letter is available here.