Under a federal return-to-office mandate, millions of government employees—from Dallas to Washington, DC—are forced back into chaotic, unprepared offices. This directive, enforced by the Trump administration, has led to unsafe working conditions and disrupted operations, setting the stage for widespread confusion and concern.
CNN reported employees at the Dallas office of the Department of Education returned to a workspace that was in disarray and flat-out dangerous. Ethernet cords were strewn across the floor and wires jutted out from the walls.
One anonymous source stated parts of the office appeared to have “no power”, leaving work areas dark.
Another employee reportedly tripped over a pile of cords in one of the unfinished offices, suffering a deep gash on her foot, and has since filed a workers’ compensation claim.
Things aren’t much better elsewhere. A major EPA branch in Cincinnati is dealing with “chaos” due to restricted mail delivery and slashed janitorial services. Meanwhile, some employees are returning to find their offices no longer exist. Two Interior Department buildings in the Western U.S. had their leases canceled last week, and a third—home to hundreds of workers—got word its lease will expire in June. I hope they didn’t unpack.
In addition to the immediate hazards reported in Dallas and Cincinnati, the federal return-to-office mandate has sparked a debate over the future of telework and government spending.
None of this should really shock anyone who’s been lucid enough to blink since January. Trump’s return-to-office mandate comes alongside a push to shrink government real estate, creating a classic bureaucratic paradox of too many workers and not enough desks.
Even before he took office in January, the federal government had been downsizing, partly driven by the pandemic-era shift to telework.
According to a 2024 Office of Management and Budget report, nearly half of the 2.3 million civilian federal workers were eligible for telework. Ten percent were in fully remote roles that had no in-person requirement. While many left their offices behind during the pandemic, others had long-standing remote arrangements. Many had long-standing remote arrangements, but now they face a choice—disrupt their work-life balance or start job hunting.
Given the absolute lack of foresight in this transition, it’s hard not to wonder if that’s the whole point.
