President Trump is putting a stop to remote working
In a controversial move, President Trump has reportedly issued an executive order that forces federal workers back into their offices—without basic amenities like desks, WiFi, or lights. The sweeping policy effectively ends remote working for millions of government employees, compelling them to return to in-person work despite challenging conditions. This dramatic shift underscores Trump’s commitment to a return to traditional office setups, as outlined in his order to roll back flexible working arrangements.
In a bold executive order, President Trump mandated that all federal employees return to the office full-time, effectively ending remote work arrangements. The directive requires heads of departments and agencies to ensure that workers are back at their duty stations as soon as possible, with limited exceptions allowed at their discretion.
However, many agencies were unprepared for the sudden return of in-person staff. At the Department of Health and Human Services, workers arrived to find no WiFi and no functioning lights for several hours. In another Department of Education office in Dallas, employees were greeted with piles of cables and exposed wires sticking out of the walls.
Speaking to CNN, one anonymous worker shared their frustration: “The only thing this return to the office has given me is an hour of traffic and a significant drop in efficiency.”
With February 24 set as the deadline for compliance with the new working rules, many employees are left grappling with disrupted workflows and subpar office conditions.
At a conservative political conference last month, Trump made it clear that remote working would no longer be tolerated: “If they don’t report for work, we’re firing them. In other words, you have to go to the office.”
Federal employees are feeling the pressure, with one worker remarking, “The only way RTO (return-to-office) works in these situations is if you reduce the number of people.”
Elon Musk, who has become a close advisor to Trump, has been a vocal critic of remote work. Since taking on the role of head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January, Musk has focused on cutting federal spending, reportedly slashing $1 billion from the federal budget through contract cancellations and massive layoffs.
In a 2023 interview, Musk went even further in his condemnation of remote working, calling it “morally wrong” and adding: “Get off the goddamn moral high horse with the work-from-home bulls***.”
