Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, incoming Trump administration advisers, are proposing to end remote work for federal employees as a means to reduce the federal workforce. They believe that requiring employees to come into the office will lead to voluntary terminations, resulting in cost savings for taxpayers. Currently, 46% of federal civilian personnel are eligible for telework, with 10% working remotely with no in-person expectations. The Biden administration has encouraged more in-person work, but also acknowledges the benefits of flexibility.
Musk and Ramaswamy, co-heads of a proposed Department of Government Efficiency, are pushing for these changes as part of their advisory roles. They have advocated for policies to cut federal jobs, relocate agencies, and repeal regulations. However, some unionized federal workers have criticized their ideas, stating that they don’t understand the federal workforce.
Musk, known for his strict approach to remote work at Tesla and SpaceX, has been influential in Trump’s orbit. He has called for employees to return to the office for a minimum of 40 hours per week. While some companies are following suit, others are embracing remote work as a recruiting and retention tool.
Overall, Musk and Ramaswamy’s proposal to end remote work for federal employees is part of a broader strategy to reduce government spending and streamline operations. Their suggestions are among the first concrete policy proposals they have put forward in their new roles.
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