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Trump Orders Federal Employees to Return to Office Within 30 Days, OPM Directs Compliance

Jan 23, 2025, 07:11 PM

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order mandating the termination of remote work for federal employees, requiring them to return to in-person work at their respective duty stations full-time. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has directed federal agency heads to revise their telework policies by 5 pm ET on Friday, January 24, 2025, and to set a target date for full compliance within 30 days, subject to any exclusions granted by the agency and any collective bargaining obligations. Exceptions may be granted for employees with disabilities, qualifying medical conditions, or other compelling reasons. The move aims to increase efficiency and accountability, and to utilize federal office space more effectively. The order affects approximately 2.3 million federal employees, with about 1.1 million currently in a hybrid model and 228,000 working fully remotely. More than one million federal employees, or 46%, were eligible to telework, while 10% were fully remote as of May 2024. The order has sparked opposition among federal workers, with concerns about productivity, efficiency, and the potential for increased costs related to office space and commuting.