Thousands of federal workers forced to return to office make horrifying discoveries after Trump ended working from home
Federal staff members report significant problems with their mandated return to office spaces. After his election victory, Donald Trump quickly ordered all government workers to end remote arrangements and resume full-time office attendance - a practice that had become standard during and after COVID-19.
The White House published a directive on Trump's first day stating: "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 and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary."
Many departments have now put this rule into effect, but workers report finding poor conditions upon their return. One IRS employee told NPR they felt fortunate to have a desk assignment. "At least I have a desk. Many of my team members have been in classrooms and auditoriums or had to move desks multiple times. Some were assigned to secure areas that they can't access," the tax agency worker explained.
Other federal staff report coming back to long-empty offices with pest problems including cockroaches and rats, non-functioning bathrooms, and garbage piling up, according to USA Today.
A worker from the Federal Aviation Administration complained about space limitations, telling NPR: "There are all the small indignities of being in a facility never equipped for this many people: toilet paper and paper towels running out immediately, very long lines at the cafeteria, loud noise, people working in hallways."
Many believe these difficult conditions are intentional as Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continue reducing federal staff numbers. Trump has suggested this himself, stating: "We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient," according to The New York Times.
Before the office return deadline, approximately 30,000 government employees had already lost their jobs by late February.
