The announcement of Stephen Miller as the new White House deputy chief of staff for policy brings a commitment to ensure federal workers return to in-person work rather than continue remote arrangements.
Miller stated during an interview with Fox News’s Jesse Watters that once President-elect Trump is inaugurated on January 20, he will instruct federal employees to return to the office and fulfill their responsibilities or seek alternative employment.
The emphasis on having federal employees work onsite is a key focus for Trump and his supporters, including prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. These businessmen have been appointed by Trump to spearhead a newly proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).
Federal workers may need to rethink their remote work arrangements as Stephen Miller emphasizes onsite responsibilities
Debates have arisen regarding the actual number of federal employees who are currently working remotely. Musk drew attention to a report from Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s office, which indicated that only 6 percent of government workers are present in-person full-time, while one-third are working entirely from home.
Musk further suggested that the actual attendance rate could be even lower, estimating that less than 1 percent of federal workers, when excluding those in security and maintenance roles, are on-site for a full 40 hours each week.
Additionally, an August report from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revealed that half of federal employees are not eligible for telework. The same report indicated that 60 percent of federal workers eligible for telework were working at an assigned job site as of May 2024.
According to the OMB report, these statistics show that the federal workforce’s on-site attendance rates align with those of various sectors within the economy, as confirmed by independent analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the report did not specify whether these workers were on-site for a full 40 hours weekly.
During the interview, Miller and Watters referenced a federal employee who allegedly shared a photo of himself taking a bath while supposedly working. “Grown men should not be taking bubble baths. They certainly should not be doing their work from home in a bubble bath,” Miller remarked. He added, “It’s so emblematic of the contempt that so many people in the swamp have for the people who pay their salaries.”
