President Trump’s effort to get federal employees back into their offices for work is proving to be stunningly effective, with the number of full-time in-office employees nearly tripling over the past six months. Here’s what you need to know about the dramatic shift in federal work patterns:
The dramatic workplace transformation
Federal in-office work nearly triples under Trump administration:
- Data compiled by Gallup show that 46% of feds were working on-site as of second quarter of this year
- That’s up from 17% in late 2024 under President Biden, and more than double national average for all workers, at 21%
- Big change has been in hybrid workers — those who spend some time in office and some time at home
- They comprised 61% of federal workforce last year, but are now just 28%, with rest being fully remote
The immediate policy impact
Trump’s executive order produces instant results:
- “In Washington, the hybrid era is over,” Gallup proclaimed
- Change is all the more staggering given how easy it appears to have been achieved
- Trump issued Inauguration Day executive order directing all departments and agencies to “take all necessary steps” to end remote work arrangements
- Change has been almost instantaneous compared to Biden’s unsuccessful efforts
The Biden administration struggles
Previous president’s efforts proved remarkably unsuccessful:
- Biden spent last 20 months of his administration trying to cajole and harangue workers to come back after pandemic
- His effort was remarkably unsuccessful, with Gallup’s data showing ratio hovered between 15% and 20% during that time
- Workers fought to keep new schedules as pandemic eased
- Biden and his management team began haranguing agencies to try to get them back in-person
The notable telework abuses
Some federal workers took advantage of remote work policies:
- Workers were pushed to stay home during pandemic, as Uncle Sam sought to set example for private sector
- Those workers grew accustomed to online meetings and not having to shower, gas up car and brave commutes
- Led to some notable abuses, such as Veterans Affairs employee who posted photo to social media of bubble bath
- Employee was bragging that he was about to join virtual meeting from the suds
The Republican oversight criticism
GOP lawmakers credit Trump’s commitment and competence:
- “The days of Biden’s bureaucrats phoning it in from bubble baths and the beach are over,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican who had been leading return-to-work fight
- “My oversight revealed barely one-tenth of telework-eligible federal employees were showing up to work on full-time basis. Today, nearly half are”
- Rep. James Comer credited Trump’s success to commitment and competence as chair of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- “His administration took swift action to ensure federal workforce returned to work to serve American people in person”
The Biden administration waste allegations
Republicans cite financial costs of empty offices:
- “Billions were wasted on empty office space, while Biden administration worked hand-in-hand with federal unions to keep unsustainable telework levels,” Comer said
- “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, most federal workers are now back in office, proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way”
- Oversight Committee investigation found Biden administration “clung to excessive telework long after pandemic, with little oversight, evaluation, or evidence of any benefit for taxpayers”
- Kentucky Republican led hearings and investigations into Biden practices
The union resistance efforts
Labor organizations sought to protect remote work arrangements:
- White House Office of Management and Budget did not respond to inquiry for this story
- Neither did several labor unions that represent federal workers
- In past statements, those unions argued that federal agencies have to offer better work terms to compete with private sector
- Unions moved to lock in telework labor agreements with Biden administration, seeking to protect them against rollback by incoming Trump team
The national work pattern comparison
Federal workers now exceed private sector in-office attendance:
- Across U.S., Gallup said, hybrid working has become most popular option, with 51% of employees using it as of May
- That’s down slightly from peak of 55% in November
- Just 21% of workers are exclusively in-person, on-site, and 28% are exclusively remote
- In 2019, before pandemic, 60% were in-person and just 8% were fully remote
The remaining hybrid work details
Limited remote work continues for some federal employees:
- Among remaining hybrid workers, they spend average of 2.3 days of five-day workweek in person at office
- Federal workforce now significantly more in-person than private sector counterparts
- Dramatic reversal from pandemic-era work patterns across government
- Hybrid work patterns have held relatively steady in private sector since 2021
Read more:
• Federal workers bowing to Trump’s order to show up for work
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
