Additional Coverage:
- Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘jackhammer and chain saw’ plan to force federal workers back into the office (nbcnews.com)
Washington, D.C. Officials Push for Federal Employees to Return to Office
Mayor Muriel Bowser has called for federal workers to return to downtown Washington, citing concerns over vacant office space and the impact on the city’s economy.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Propose Efficiency Measures
Entrepreneur Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have proposed measures to increase government efficiency, including requiring federal employees to work in the office five days a week.
Union Opposes Mandatory Office Work
The American Federation of Government Employees, representing over 700,000 workers, argues that many federal jobs require remote work, including healthcare workers and border patrol agents.
Concerns Over Excess Office Space
The Government Accountability Office reports that federal agencies are using only a quarter of their office space, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Education Department Targeted for Elimination
Musk and Ramaswamy have identified the Education Department as a potential target for elimination due to its low office use rate.
Telework a Recruiter
The union contends that allowing partial remote work helps the federal government attract and retain talent.
Biden Mandates Partial In-Office Work
In August 2023, President Joe Biden required federal workers to spend at least half of every two-week pay period in the office.
Origins of Telework
The federal government has encouraged telework since the 9/11 attacks to ensure continuity of operations during emergencies.