Thu Nov 21 18:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Trump’s New Efficiency Team Targets Remote Work to Shrink Federal Workforce

**Washington, D.C.** – President-elect Donald Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is poised to initiate sweeping changes to the federal workforce, focusing on ending remote work as a primary cost-cutting measure. The initiative, confirmed by sources close to DOGE, aims to force a return to in-person, five-day workweeks for all federal employees.

This mandate, coupled with potential relocation of agencies outside of Washington, D.C., is anticipated to trigger a wave of voluntary resignations, shrinking the federal workforce and saving taxpayer money, according to DOGE. Musk and Ramaswamy themselves articulated this strategy in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed.

The move has sparked immediate controversy. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing over 800,000 federal workers, criticized the plan, stating that current data does not support the claim that federal employees are not working in-person sufficiently. He emphasized that any changes impacting union contracts must be negotiated through collective bargaining.

Federal employees have voiced concerns. One Library of Congress employee, granted remote work during the pandemic and now living far from D.C., stated that a forced return would necessitate a disruptive and costly move, potentially separating them from their family. Other employees highlighted the impact on productivity and work-life balance, with some threatening resignation if forced to endure lengthy commutes.

While ending remote work is a high priority, potentially implemented through executive orders, DOGE’s plans encompass broader cost-cutting measures, including identifying and eliminating funds for expired government programs. The team will utilize existing reports and analyses to inform their recommendations, and while executive orders are initially anticipated, a long-term strategy involving rulemaking is also underway.

The DOGE team is expected to remain small, relying on agencies to identify internal cost-saving opportunities. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk is reportedly serving as an informal advisor. The plan’s success remains to be seen, but its potential impact on federal employees and the government’s operations is significant and already facing considerable pushback.

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