Trump Leaves Federal Workers Divided

President Trump’s bold return-to-office order is shaking up the federal workforce — and many government employees aren’t happy about it.

A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll reveals a sharp divide among federal workers as Trump’s administration demands a full five-day in-office workweek to restore government efficiency and cut wasteful spending.

Remote Work Culture Clashes with Trump’s Back-to-Office Mandate

According to the survey, 50% of federal employees oppose the return-to-office requirement, while 49% support it. But among those whose jobs can be done from home, a whopping 85% oppose the order — a troubling sign of how deeply remote work culture has embedded itself in Washington’s bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, 70% of employees in roles that require physical presence support the mandate — showing strong alignment with President Trump’s no-nonsense approach to government accountability.

Elon Musk Supports Trump’s Tough Stance on Government Remote Work

Billionaire entrepreneur and Trump ally Elon Musk recently backed the president’s executive order, stating that federal workers who ignore the mandate will face administrative leave.

“They’ve had more than a month to comply,” Musk said on his platform X. “Starting this week, those who still refuse to return to the office will be put on leave.”

This mirrors Trump’s warning shortly after taking office — return to work or face termination. The Trump administration, along with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is committed to ending remote work abuse and slashing unnecessary government spending.

Survey Reveals Federal Workers Fear Layoffs, Doubt Administration’s Legality

More than 1 in 3 federal employees say their job can be done remotely, and many claim they haven’t even been assigned a desk at their office. Despite that, the Trump administration is moving forward — aiming to restore structure and weed out inefficiency in bloated agencies.

The poll also found:

• 57% of federal employees believe Trump’s executive orders may be illegal
• 71% are concerned that mass layoffs could hurt government functionality
• 38% of Trump voters in government are uneasy about the staffing cuts, though only a fraction believe it will hurt productivity

Still, 80% of employees are staying in their roles, with just 20% seeking new jobs. That suggests many may comply — reluctantly — with Trump’s new rules to keep their paychecks.

The Bottom Line: Trump Takes on Federal Bureaucracy, One Desk at a Time

President Trump is proving once again that he’s not afraid to take on the D.C. swamp — even if it means upsetting government workers addicted to remote work.

This move is part of a broader campaign to rein in federal spending, increase productivity, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are no longer funding stay-at-home government gigs.

As Musk and Trump double down, the message is clear: it’s time for Washington to get back to work.

Do you support Trump’s plan to end remote work in the federal government?