Impact of Telework on Federal Efficiency

Prior to the push for returning to the office, a significant portion of federal employees had embraced remote work, which has been shown to enhance efficiency and productivity. Approximately 288,000 employees were fully remote, with many others enjoying part-time telework, which had been previously encouraged as a cost-saving measure, saving taxpayers over $230 million in 2023 alone. Employees argue that the elimination of remote work is not merely an inconvenience but poses a risk of forcing them to quit, especially since they believe that their ability to work effectively will be compromised in poorly equipped office settings. The contrast between the goals of increased office presence and the need to maintain an efficient workforce creates tension among federal employees adapting to these new directives.