Incoming Trump administration advisers Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy suggested ending remote work for federal workers as a way to reduce the federal workforce. They argued that the pandemic-era privilege of working from home should no longer be supported by taxpayers. Currently, about 46% of civilian federal workers are eligible for telework, with 10% in fully remote positions. The Biden administration had previously ordered federal agencies to increase in-person work, but allowed some flexibility due to operational costs and other factors.
Musk and Ramaswamy, co-heads of the potential Department of Government Efficiency, proposed requiring federal employees to work in the office five days a week, which they predicted would lead to voluntary terminations. They also suggested other measures to reduce federal jobs, such as large-scale firings and relocating agencies out of Washington. Their ideas are among the first concrete policy suggestions they have made in their advisory roles.
Musk, known for his strict approach to remote work at Tesla and SpaceX, has been increasingly influential in Trump’s orbit. Some unionized federal workers have criticized Musk and Ramaswamy, stating that they do not understand the workings of the federal workforce and make unfounded claims about government waste. Despite the pushback, Musk and Ramaswamy outlined other proposals for cutting federal spending and repealing regulations, citing Supreme Court precedent that would give Trump broad authority in these matters.
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