diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2fd8e63a..4c3d9d62 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -309,12 +309,12 @@ data-validation (--verbose or -v) (--log-level or -ll) validate custom-query col
                         Source sql query
                         Either --source-query or --source-query-file must be provided
   --source-query-file  SOURCE_QUERY_FILE, -sqf SOURCE_QUERY_FILE
-                        File containing the source sql commands
+                        File containing the source sql command. Supports GCS and local paths.
   --target-query TARGET_QUERY, -tq TARGET_QUERY
                         Target sql query
                         Either --target-query or --target-query-file must be provided
   --target-query-file TARGET_QUERY_FILE, -tqf TARGET_QUERY_FILE
-                        File containing the target sql commands
+                        File containing the target sql command. Supports GCS and local paths.
   [--count COLUMNS]     Comma separated list of columns for count or * for all columns
   [--sum COLUMNS]       Comma separated list of columns for sum or * for all numeric
   [--min COLUMNS]       Comma separated list of columns for min or * for all numeric
@@ -371,12 +371,12 @@ data-validation (--verbose or -v) (--log-level or -ll) validate custom-query row
                         Source sql query
                         Either --source-query or --source-query-file must be provided
   --source-query-file SOURCE_QUERY_FILE, -sqf SOURCE_QUERY_FILE
-                        File containing the source sql commands
+                        File containing the source sql command. Supports GCS and local paths.
   --target-query TARGET_QUERY, -tq TARGET_QUERY
                         Target sql query
                         Either --target-query or --target-query-file must be provided
   --target-query-file TARGET_QUERY_FILE, -tqf TARGET_QUERY_FILE
-                        File containing the target sql commands
+                        File containing the target sql command. Supports GCS and local paths.
   --comparison-fields or -comp-fields FIELDS
                         Comma separated list of columns to compare. Can either be a physical column or an alias
                         See: *Calculated Fields* section for details
diff --git a/data_validation/config_manager.py b/data_validation/config_manager.py
index ed4343bc..c2cc0c6e 100644
--- a/data_validation/config_manager.py
+++ b/data_validation/config_manager.py
@@ -1034,8 +1034,7 @@ def get_query_from_file(self, filename):
         """Return query from input file"""
         query = ""
         try:
-            file = open(filename, "r")
-            query = file.read()
+            query = gcs_helper.read_file(filename, download_as_text=True)
             query = query.rstrip(";\n")
         except IOError:
             logging.error("Cannot read query file: ", filename)
@@ -1045,7 +1044,6 @@ def get_query_from_file(self, filename):
                 "Expected file with sql query, got empty file or file with white spaces. "
                 f"input file: {filename}"
             )
-        file.close()
         return query
 
     def get_query_from_inline(self, inline_query):
diff --git a/data_validation/gcs_helper.py b/data_validation/gcs_helper.py
index bbdc5b2f..e7ee6f7b 100644
--- a/data_validation/gcs_helper.py
+++ b/data_validation/gcs_helper.py
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ def _get_gcs_file_path(gcs_file_path: str) -> str:
     return "".join(gcs_file_path[5:].split("/", 1)[1:])
 
 
-def _read_gcs_file(file_path: str) -> bytes:
+def _read_gcs_file(file_path: str, download_as_text: bool = False):
     gcs_bucket = get_gcs_bucket(file_path)
     blob = gcs_bucket.blob(_get_gcs_file_path(file_path))
     if not blob:
         raise ValueError(f"Invalid Cloud Storage Path: {file_path}")
-    return blob.download_as_bytes()
+    return blob.download_as_text() if download_as_text else blob.download_as_bytes()
 
 
 def _write_gcs_file(file_path: str, data: str):
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def _write_gcs_file(file_path: str, data: str):
     blob.upload_from_string(data)
 
 
-def read_file(file_path: str):
+def read_file(file_path: str, download_as_text: bool = False):
     if _is_gcs_path(file_path):
-        return _read_gcs_file(file_path)
+        return _read_gcs_file(file_path, download_as_text)
     else:
         with open(file_path, "r") as f:
             return f.read()
diff --git a/tests/system/test_state_manager.py b/tests/system/test_state_manager.py
index ff8f52d7..69eb759c 100644
--- a/tests/system/test_state_manager.py
+++ b/tests/system/test_state_manager.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ def test_read_and_write_gcs_file():
     data = gcs_helper.read_file(GCS_STATE_FULL_PATH)
     assert data == b"TEST_DATA"
 
+    data = gcs_helper.read_file(GCS_STATE_FULL_PATH, download_as_text=True)
+    assert data == "TEST_DATA"
+
 
 def test_list_gcs_dir():
     gcs_helper.write_file(GCS_STATE_FULL_PATH, TEST_DATA)