President Donald Trump ordered federal workers to return to their offices, which was exactly what happened at the Veterans Affairs Bureau on Monday.
“This is an exciting day,” VA secretary Doug Collins said in a video posted to social media that includes footage of greeting employees. “We’re abolishing telework and remote work and bringing everyone back together. I think that’s great for what we’re doing. Really, that’s common sense.”
Under Trump’s brief note on January 20th, all federal employees must return to work full-time at their respective work agencies. In the case of a VA, the exemption includes workers with illness or disabilities, or workers responsible for overseas assignments.
Federal workers face deadlines to justify their jobs
“Now is the time to get the whole family back together,” Collins said. “At the end, it brings us back to work, focusing on missions, and that mission is veterans.”
This return to work policy also poses a threat. On Monday, Elon Musk, who leads Trump’s government efficiency, issued a warning to federal workers on his previous Twitter platform X.
“From this week onwards, those who have not returned to their office will be on administrative leave,” Musk wrote.
“Remote work during the full-time Covid era will be under @potus’ leadership,” Trump’s new Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Lee Zeldin, told X on Monday.
In a video he posted, Zeldin said the average attendance at EPA headquarters last Monday and Friday was less than 9% of employees.
“Our spacious and beautiful EPA headquarters spans five buildings and spans two city blocks in DC,” Zeldin said. “But our corridors are empty, filled with empty desks and empty cubicles.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source link
