As the Trump administration announced its mandate to return to power this week; said Americans “deserve the highest quality of service from people who love our country.”
Federal employees like Frank Paulsen say the comments suggest they are not diligent or loyal.
Mr. Paulsen, 50, is vice president of Local 1641 of the American Federation of Federal Employees, a federal labor union. He works as a nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Spokane, Washington, and has been telecommuting three days a week since 2022. His main job is processing referrals to send patients to regional health partners, which can also be done remotely.
Paulsen said he has been a federal employee for 22 years and is a disabled veteran himself. And he doesn’t think that the people he works with are not up to his potential.
“I don’t think I would follow that belief at all,” Paulsen said. “My colleagues are very eager to get the job done.”
On Monday, President Trump presidential order Requires all federal agencies to order employees to return to the office full-time “as soon as practicable,” along with instructions to end remote work arrangements unless deemed necessary.
Late Wednesday, government officials announced more detailed instructions It calls for an end to all remote work agreements, saying the “virtual abandonment” of most federal agencies is a “clear impediment” to improving government performance.
The Republican Party is I have long lamented the current state of the federal bureaucracy.. But the Trump administration appears to be making good on its promise to overhaul the policy, with support from Elon Musk, the president’s biggest donor and now a quasi-official adviser.
“This is a question of equity. It’s not fair that most people have to go to work to make products or provide services while federal employees stay home,” Musk said in the order. wrote to X after signing.