Donald Trump, never one to tiptoe around controversy, wasted no time criticizing federal work-from-home policies during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. Calling them “ridiculous,” the president-elect declared his administration’s intent to end what he sees as a government free-for-all. Trump warned that federal employees unwilling to return to their offices could find themselves out of a job, drawing predictable outrage from union leaders. With federal telework arrangements becoming a hallmark of pandemic-era governance, this sets the stage for a high-stakes battle over remote work and government accountability.
The push to curtail telework aligns neatly with Trump’s broader agenda of government efficiency, driven by figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. However, the issue also has roots in agreements brokered under the Biden administration. Outgoing Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley secured a deal extending telework for 42,000 employees until 2029, a decision that critics on the right have lambasted as bureaucratic overreach. To Trump and his allies, this kind of arrangement epitomizes the bloat and entrenchment they’re determined to eliminate, framing the deal as a prime example of unions and government leaders prioritizing employee comfort over taxpayer interests.
Federal unions are not backing down without a fight. Everett Kelley, the head of the American Federation of Government Employees, has already threatened legal action if Trump’s administration attempts to override existing collective bargaining agreements. Kelley insists these contracts are legally binding and enforceable, signaling that unions are prepared to take their case to court. With nearly 3 million federal employees across the country, this is no small skirmish. However, critics argue that unions are more focused on preserving cushy arrangements than ensuring government workers are held accountable to the taxpayers who fund their salaries.
Kelley also made an effort to downplay the prevalence of telework in the federal government, claiming that most employees can’t work remotely due to the nature of their jobs. According to his numbers, only 10% of federal workers are fully remote, while hybrid employees spend over 60% of their time in the office. Critics, however, were quick to note that this still leaves a significant portion of federal work hours—40% for hybrid employees—being done remotely. When excluding jobs like postal workers or maintenance staff, who can’t telework, the proportion of remote work rises even higher, adding fuel to the argument that government accountability is slipping.
The debate over remote work has become particularly contentious in Washington, D.C., where federal employees have grown accustomed to their flexible arrangements. Critics see this as emblematic of a broader decline in efficiency and accountability within federal agencies, while proponents argue that telework improves productivity and work-life balance. As Trump prepares to take office, this fight over telework is shaping up to be about more than just where employees sit—it’s about the future of government operations, union influence, and pandemic-era policies. For many federal workers, the days of working in pajamas may be numbered, whether they like it or not.
