The Trump administration's directive to return federal employees to the office curtailed remote work but did not eliminate it altogether, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As of last year, about 208,000 federal employees, or 9% of the workforce, were still engaged in remote work, a statistic reflective of previous reports. The directive further complicated productivity assessments by revoking prior methods, while follow-up guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) allowed exceptions for military spouses and employees needing to work remotely for specific conditions. Agencies have responded variably, identifying exceptions without quantifying their impacts.
The Trump administration’s return-to-office directive significantly reduced remote work among federal employees while complicating efforts to measure its impact on productivity.
As reported by GAO, approximately 208,000 federal employees, or 9 percent of the workforce, were classified as remote workers a year ago.
OPM's follow-up guidance permits remote work for military spouses, those with medical conditions, and other compelling circumstances, though not reflecting its quantitative impact.
Most agencies reported allowing exceptions to remote work in limited cases to retain specialized staff or critical mission roles, but without clear quantification.
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