Will the new presidency affect WFH for federal workers?
Winds of change are blowing, and for federal workers these could bring an end to the widespread remote work policies adopted and enhanced during the pandemic.
Recommendations from the new Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, strongly suggest that big changes are ahead.
The advisory committee, helmed by Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, plans to work with federal agencies in a bid to reduce the workforce through attrition.
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Top of the list is taking aim at WFH privileges. In late November the pair penned an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, promising “We’ll cut costs”, and stated that their plan with DOGE is to reform federal agencies in three key areas; regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings.
Citing “mass head-count reductions”, the piece outlined that DOGE will work with agencies to identify the minimum number of employees required to perform its function, and will make cuts accordingly.
Baldly, it also outlined that: “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home.”
Currently, 1.3 million –– half of the federal workforce –– are approved for teleworking, however government data shows that federal workers spend 60% of their time performing work in person.
Just 10%, or 228,000 workers are purely remote, and currently, each agency determines its remote work policy.
Federal fallout
Many federal employees have voiced their unhappiness about these plans, and many of these stories are shared anonymously, in fear of being a target for cuts.
Some fear the loss of remote work flexibility generally, which they see as a hard-earned improvement to work-life balance during the pandemic, while many others moved away from their office meaning lengthy or impossible commutes.
For those juggling childcare and eldercare, a return to the office could be particularly disruptive.
Outside of personal challenges, there are a number of broader consequences to consider if remote working is dropped for government workers.
Federal agencies have faced recruitment challenges in recent years, as private companies often offer more competitive pay and varied benefits. A hardline approach to remote work could exacerbate these challenges, particularly among younger workers who are accustomed to prioritizing flexibility in their careers.
And while government savings would be welcomed by many, drastic workforce reductions could lead to slower services, longer wait times, and less oversight overall.
DOGE’s impact is yet to be seen. To go beyond soundbites, the “lean team of small-government crusaders” will need to work with Congress to achieve the reform they outline, and this collaborative work is unlikely to be simple or plain sailing.
However, as DOGE prepares to release its formal recommendations, federal employees are bracing themselves. If its intentions for teleworking are enacted, the federal workplace could undergo its most significant transformation in decades, and its effects will be personal. Jobs and livelihoods hang in the balance.
For the broader public, the outcomes of DOGE will shape the efficiency and responsiveness of the services they rely on every day.
The coming months will determine whether DOGE’s vision of a leaner, in-person federal workforce becomes reality, or whether the resistance from employees, unions, and lawmakers will preserve telework for the modern federal workplace.
With such uncertainty, many workers will be evaluating their options and looking for opportunities that better align with their needs for flexibility and work-life balance.
If you’re one of them, now is the perfect time to explore The Hill’s Job Board, where flexible roles are advertised daily. And if you’re seeking a fully-remote role, choose ‘Remote, USA’ as your location.