Elon Musk Stirs Controversy with Big Return-to-Office Push for Federal Employees—And He’s Not Holding Back!

The return-to-office debate got a bit spicier last week with Elon Musk’s latest promise to make the government more efficient.

In an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, the billionaire appointed to head up the new Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E) along with his co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy, laid out plans to reduce the overall size of the government and cut costs. And one part of that blueprint included mandating a full return-to-office for all Federal workers.

“Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the COVID-era privilege of staying home,” they wrote.

In doing so, Musk and Ramaswamy seem to be openly announcing what some critics have long argued is a disguised impetus behind strict RTO mandates: Job cuts. One survey this year of more than 1,500 U.S. managers found that a quarter of C-suite executives were hoping that return-to-office policies would encourage employees to voluntarily quit. After all, it’s certainly cheaper than having to do layoffs and pay severance.

Other CEOs have discussed potential attrition due to five-day RTO mandates. Last month, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman told staffers during an all-hands meeting that it’s “OK” if people don’t want to work in an office environment because there are “other companies around.” That led many employees to sign an open letter to corporate leadership noting his remarks were “inconsistent with the experiences of many employees” and “misrepresenting the realities of working at Amazon.” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy pushed back against allegations that the company’s RTO requirement was an excuse to lay off workers and said the decision was “not a cost play.”

The Federal government is the nation’s largest employer, with over 2.2 million civilian staffers. Until now, each agency has been able to decide what workplace policy works best for them. Of the total number of Federal workers, roughly half work on-site, according to an August report from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. While remaining employees are eligible for remote work, the report found that only 228,000, or roughly 10%, were in remote positions where there was no expectation that they work in-person. And those who have the option to work remotely spent about 60% of working hours in-person at various job sites.

It’s unclear if Musk and Ramaswamy will actually be able to implement a five-day RTO for Federal workers. And of course, the question remains: Will these CEOs return to the office themselves? That’s yet to be seen.

Related Posts

🚨 Urgent Sighting Sparks New Questions in Travis Turner Manhunt as Eldest Son Is Seen Entering Woods Near Fugitive’s Last Known Location 😱🌲

Just moments ago, authorities in Wise County, Virginia, received a tip that could blow open the case of fugitive high school football coach Travis Turner. His eldest…

💔 A Teen’s Life Ended by an Online “Dream Girl” — A Father’s Warning as Sextortion Scams Keep K!lling 😢🚨

The quiet town of Marquette, Michigan, nestled along the icy shores of Lake Superior, became the epicenter of a national conversation about digital dangers in March 2022….

Finding Her Edge Skates Onto Netflix with January Premiere and Fresh Cast.

Netflix’s upcoming young adult drama Finding Her Edge arrives on the streaming platform January 22, 2026, bringing viewers into the glamorous yet demanding realm of competitive figure…

Purple Hearts Part 2 is loading on Netflix – Cassie and Luke are back – but life after “I do” isn’t all harmony.

Netflix’s breakout romantic drama Purple Hearts continues to hold a special place in viewers’ hearts more than three years after its 2022 debut, with ongoing discussions about…

Euphoria Season 3 Prepares for Spring Return with Time Jump and Expanded Ensemble.

HBO’s acclaimed drama series Euphoria is set to captivate audiences once more with its third season, slated for an April 2026 premiere on HBO Max. The announcement,…

🚨🛴 Florida crime case: Man allegedly finds burned 14-year-old girl in woods, takes her scooter home instead of calling police

A routine errand in the dense woods near Pace, Florida, turned into a pivotal moment for investigators on December 4, 2025, when a local man stumbled upon…