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Federal employees returning to office after years of remote work face chaotic and unprepared workplaces. NASA headquarters in Washington has cockroach infestations, while IRS staff in Memphis struggle with privacy concerns in shared spaces. Employees at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services compare their fight for desks to "The Hunger Games."
President Donald Trump's January 20 mandate to bring back federal employees aims to reduce government inefficiencies, but critics argue it is a strategic move to encourage resignations and cut the 2.3-million-strong workforce. Many offices lack desks, internet access, and proper seating, with some workers resorting to sitting on floors or in cars using personal hotspots. An IRS official in California was assigned to work in a supply closet.
Unions argue the disorder is intentional. "Bringing people back was a ploy to increase stress and force resignations," said Steve Lenkart of the National Federation of Federal Employees. Employees report reduced productivity as they struggle for basic resources. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, overcrowding forces some to take meetings from their cars.
Despite government claims that workplaces are adequately prepared, federal buildings have seen a mass exodus, with over 100,000 employees either resigning or taking buyouts. The Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture offices also report overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and lack of essential resources like parking and paper towels.
Trump’s administration defends the return-to-office order as a necessary step to improve government efficiency. Washington's mayor supports it for economic revitalization, but many federal employees argue it has led to confusion and dysfunction. As frustrations grow, the question remains: Is this truly about efficiency, or is it a calculated move to reshape the federal workforce?
