WASHINGTON — Former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley — who previously served as Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor — faced criticism from a Republican-chaired House committee Wednesday for a deal securing telework for tens of thousands of unionized federal employees.

“How is this good for democracy?” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said in prepared opening remarks at a hearing where O’Malley, a candidate to chair the Democratic National Committee, was a witness.

“The voters just delivered President Trump an electoral mandate to run the executive branch. Should union contracts designed to tie his hands take precedence over that mandate?” Comer asked.

Comer referred to a deal between the Woodlawn-based Social Security agency and American Federation of Government Employees that locks in telework for the union employees for the duration of Republican Donald Trump’s term, which begins Monday.

O’Malley said the agreement would aid customer service and that Congress had significantly reduced agency staff in recent years.

O’Malley said that as part of the agreement, the agency was able to win concessions regarding union grievances that had potentially exposed the government to paying out millions of dollars.

Asked about the agreement, O’Malley told The Baltimore Sun on Monday that productivity at the Social Security Administration improved 6.2% last year, the largest productivity increase in 10 years. His DNC campaign also noted the terms of the contracts were negotiated in 2022, before O’Malley’s appointment.

Trump and congressional Republicans have criticized telework, saying workers are less productive and accountable than when they are required to come to the office.

O’Malley is a candidate to replace outgoing DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. The election is Feb. 1.

Have a news tip? Contact Jeff Barker at jbarker@baltsun.com.