Federal employees have reported that the Trump administration's return to office mandates have been extremely disorganized.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an order that effectively ended remote work for federal employees, despite pre-COVID protocols that saved the government millions of dollars. He then proceeded to dismiss workers indiscriminately, including probationary staff who a judge ruled must be reinstated.
These sweeping changes have resulted in widespread confusion and chaos as federal employees report returning to offices lacking supplies and receiving unclear instructions, completely undermining efforts to save money and increase productivity. Employees from several key agencies have reported shortages of desks, computer monitors, parking spaces and even basic items like toilet paper and paper towels in their offices.
Staff at the FDA's White Oak campus continue to express concerns about the building's drinking water, following the detection of Legionella bacteria in some areas during testing last year. Despite the agency's assurances that the water is now safe ahead of this month's push to return to the office, it has not provided updated test results to support this claim, according to an internal email reviewed by NPR.
Earlier this month, a Department of Agriculture employee working remotely was given a list of office locations for their mandatory return - only to discover one was actually a storage facility. Intrigued, the worker drove to the address and found a real storage unit.
The facility's owner, when questioned, chuckled and confirmed that the government does lease a unit there - not for office space, but for storing a Fish and Wildlife Service boat. The unit lacks heat, power or windows.
The COVID pandemic significantly boosted remote work, but many agencies had already begun this transition years earlier in a bid to cut costs on office space and enhance recruitment and retention, as per the federal Office of Personnel Management.
Prior to Trump's call, one out of every ten of the roughly 2.28 million federal workers across 24 agencies held fully remote positions, while 54% worked on-site and 46% were eligible for remote work, according to a 2024 OMB study. This shift helped federal agencies save over $230 million in the fiscal year 2023.
Several agency employees have voiced their frustration over the lack of essential equipment and basic amenities needed to perform their duties. Federal workers have also expressed their anxiety about being left in the dark regarding potential office relocations.
Employees at Texas' Internal Revenue Service have reported to NPR that they've been forced to work in classrooms, auditoriums and cafeterias with unreliable Wi-Fi during their busiest season. As a result of these conditions, some IRS workers were told not to return to the office, contrary to the president's orders, to avoid further delays.
In the meantime, Veterans Affairs office employees have voiced concerns about insufficient space affecting patient care. The VA has stated it is taking steps to resolve these issues.
Similarly, Social Security Administration staff have cautioned that shortages are leading to extended wait times and registration delays, sparking worries about access.
Food and Drug Administration workers in Maryland reported that their mandated return was immediately met with traffic jams and a lack of parking spaces. Some weren't even provided keys to their offices.
"There are all the small indignities of being in a facility never equipped for this many people: toilet paper and paper towels running out immediately, very long lines at the cafeteria, loud noise, people working in hallways," one FDA employee shared with NPR.
Another commented: "It has seemed like an arbitrary punishment to lower morale."
The FDA has acknowledged the problems that have surfaced since returning to the office and said it is making efforts to address them.
Several disgruntled workers have voiced suspicions that the return-to-office mandate is a sneaky strategy to encourage resignations. DOGE head Elon Musk has been known to use similar tactics at his other enterprises, including X, formerly Twitter, as part of a broader scheme to cut down his workforce and boost profits.
Concerns have also been raised about a chilling speech in 2023 by the incoming Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, who was instrumental in creating Project 2025. In his speech, he outlined his ambition to drastically shrink the influence of the federal government.
"We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected," Vought said. "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains."
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.
