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3mo ago

Trump Orders Federal Workers to Return to Office Full-Time

The directive aims to end remote work for executive branch employees but faces logistical, legal, and financial challenges.

OPM's Washington, D.C., headquarters. (Billy Mitchell)
Power is constantly swinging between bosses and employees, but with an aging workforce, these RTO mandates may not prove fruitful down the line.
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Commuters wait for metro in Washington DC.

Overview

  • President Trump issued an executive order requiring federal employees in the executive branch to return to in-office work full-time, with limited exemptions for disabilities or other compelling reasons.
  • The order impacts both fully remote workers and those on hybrid schedules, with agencies required to revise telework policies by the end of the week.
  • Legal and logistical hurdles are anticipated, including potential conflicts with collective bargaining agreements and challenges for workers without designated office spaces.
  • The mandate may lead to increased costs for relocations, transit subsidies, and pay adjustments due to locality differences, while risking employee retention and engagement.
  • Experts warn that the changes could disproportionately affect certain groups, such as military spouses and younger employees, and disrupt federal operations in the short term.