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Trump Mandates Federal Workers Return to Office Full-Time, Impacting Thousands

share-iconTuesday, January 21 comment-icon1 day ago 0 views
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Trump Mandates Federal Workers Return to Office Full-Time, Impacting Thousands

Credited from: BUSINESSINSIDER

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring federal employees to return to their offices full-time, a move aimed at reshaping the government workforce. This mandate is part of a broader strategy to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy and install loyalists within the federal agencies, as suggested by prominent supporters like Elon Musk, the incoming head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The executive order directs the heads of all departments and agencies to terminate remote work arrangements promptly and demand that employees report to their respective duty stations five days a week. "Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements," the order states, with necessary exemptions left to the discretion of agency heads. This policy shift poses a threat to the flexible work environments that many federal employees have enjoyed since the pandemic began.

Statistics from a recent report by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management indicate that approximately 54% of the 2.3 million federal workers are already working entirely in-person, while about 10% are in fully remote positions. This order could significantly impact the remaining remote and hybrid workers, many of whom may be compelled to choose between returning to the office, quitting, or facing termination. "If federal employees don't want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn't pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home," Musk noted in an opinion piece, highlighting the intention behind the move.

In conjunction with the return-to-office order, Trump implemented a hiring freeze across federal agencies, halting the filling of existing vacancies and prohibiting the creation of new positions. This freeze excludes military personnel and certain public safety roles, yet it raises concerns regarding the efficiency and functionality of federal operations as departments grapple with staffing challenges. Trump's actions prompt fears among unions, with many activists arguing that this strategy could lead to mass voluntary terminations, thereby shrinking the federal workforce to better align with the administration's political aims.

Critics, including Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, have condemned the executive order as an attempt to undermine civil service protections and politicize federal employment. "This unprecedented assertion of executive power will create an army of sycophants beholden only to Donald Trump, not the Constitution or the American people," Kelley remarked, expressing concerns about the potential erosion of the federal workforce's integrity.

The immediate effects of Trump's mandate may soon become evident, as many federal workers find themselves facing new employment conditions. While intervention from Congress is possible, the current Republican majority makes significant opposition to Trump's policy unlikely. Legal challenges could also arise, potentially delaying the enforcement of these new directives. For more details, see the complete articles on Business Insider and Newsweek.

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