Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Jimmy Williams
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, key advisers to incoming President-elect Donald Trump, are advocating for an end to remote work for federal employees, describing it as a “Covid-era privilege.” In an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal, the tech leaders suggested that requiring employees to return to the office full-time would naturally shrink the federal workforce.
“Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the privilege of staying home.”
This proposal could impact over a million federal workers. According to an August report by the Office of Management and Budget, 46% of federal civilian employees, or about 1.1 million individuals, are eligible for some telework. Additionally, 10% hold fully remote roles without any in-person work expectations.
While the Biden administration directed agencies to increase in-person work in 2023, it also left room for flexibility, citing operational costs, recruitment needs, and other considerations. Musk and Ramaswamy argued that such flexibility has contributed to government inefficiency and waste.
The pair co-lead Trump’s newly established advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Though not an official federal department, DOGE is tasked with identifying ways to streamline government operations.
Musk’s stance on remote work aligns with his strict policies at Tesla and SpaceX, where he mandated a 40-hour in-office workweek in 2022. Despite logistical challenges, Musk has championed in-person work as essential for productivity.
Critics have pushed back against the proposal. Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said Musk and Ramaswamy lack understanding of how federal operations function.
“It is clear that Musk and Ramaswamy simply do not understand how the federal workforce is staffed or operated,” Erwin said. “They make absurd claims about government waste and bash dedicated federal employees.”
In their editorial, Musk and Ramaswamy also suggested “large-scale firings,” relocating federal agencies outside Washington, D.C., and repealing regulations as additional measures to cut federal spending. They cited recent Supreme Court rulings that, in their view, grant the president significant authority to reshape the federal workforce.
The future of remote work remains contentious, with some corporations following Musk’s lead in scaling back flexible policies, while others retain remote options to attract and retain talent. Whether Musk and Ramaswamy’s recommendations gain traction in the new administration remains to be seen.
