Written by Raphael Satter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump ordered federal workers back to the office five days a week, signing an executive order in front of cheering supporters in Washington Capital one (NYSE:) Arena on Monday.
The move would force large numbers of civil servants to abandon telecommuting arrangements, reversing a trend that took hold in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of Trump’s allies have said the back-to-work mandate is intended to help deplete the civil service, making it easier for Trump to replace longtime civil servants with loyalists.
In a brief statement posted on the White House website, Trump ordered all department and agency heads to, “as soon as possible, take all necessary steps to terminate telecommuting arrangements and require employees to return to work in person at their own convenience.” the duty becomes full-time, subject to department and agency heads making exceptions as deemed necessary.”
Tesla (NASDAQ: ) CEO Elon Musk — who chairs the cost-cutting body — recently predicted that ending the “Covid-era privilege” of remote work would set off a “wave of voluntary layoffs that we welcome.”
