Federal Employees Face In-Person Work Mandate as DOGE Implements Major Budget Reductions

The Department of Government Efficiency ($DOGE ), led by Elon Musk, has intensified its restructuring of federal work programs following a directive from President Donald Trump. In a statement shared on Truth Social, President Trump commended Musk’s efforts but urged him to “be more aggressive” in eliminating inefficiencies within the federal government.


Within hours, Musk responded via X, stating: “Will do, Mr. President!”—signaling a further tightening of cost-cutting measures and administrative reforms.


Federal Workforce Returns to In-Person Operations


According to FOX News, one of Trump’s first executive orders upon returning to office on January 20, 2025, mandated the immediate reversion to full-time, in-office work for all federal employees.


To enforce compliance, Musk’s DOGE team issued an email requiring federal employees to submit five bullet points detailing their weekly accomplishments. This directive, however, has been met with resistance from several government departments.


Notably, FBI Director Kash Patel advised his team to ignore the request, stating, “Please pause any responses.” Similarly, the State Department instructed employees not to report their activities outside their chain of command.


Musk has since reaffirmed his stance, warning that failure to comply would be interpreted as a resignation.


Congressional Support and Public Debate


The policy has sparked debate, with some lawmakers supporting the crackdown on inefficiencies. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) defended the initiative, saying:



“I don’t think this request is unreasonable. However, the administration should balance accountability with compassion.”


Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC) added that government agencies were “not even occupying half of their office space,” making a return-to-office mandate necessary.

DOGE Reports $55 Billion in Savings Through Budget Reductions


As of February 17, 2025, DOGE reports $55 billion in savings, achieved through fraud detection, contract terminations, workforce reductions, asset sales, and regulatory adjustments.

Key Budget Reductions Include:


✔ $1.5 million cut from DEI programs in Serbia

✔ $70,000 cut from a DEI musical in Ireland

✔ $47,000 cut from a transgender opera in Colombia


These measures align with the administration’s broader cost-reduction efforts to streamline government spending.


USAID and Federal Agencies See Workforce Reductions


The White House confirmed that 1,600 employees from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were terminated, with most of the remaining workforce placed on leave.


In response, Chemonics, a company working with USAID, disclosed in a court filing that contract suspensions had forced it to furlough 750 employees, amounting to 63% of its workforce.


Some affected employees have expressed concerns over the abrupt job cuts. Former IRS agent Charles Farinella shared his distress:



“I might have to sell my house because I don’t have severance or anything. I feel devastated.”


Despite pushback from affected workers, the Trump administration remains committed to its fiscal reform strategy.


Final Thoughts


Elon Musk’s role in overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already led to significant financial restructuring. As more government departments revert to in-person work, and agencies undergo further cost-cutting, the effectiveness of these policies will be closely monitored in the coming months.


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