OPM Memorandum, January 22, 2025 “…The President’s PM directs agency heads to “take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis” “as soon as practicable.” It allows agency heads to “make exemptions they deem necessary” and directs that the directive “be implemented consistent with applicable law.” The PM reflects a simple reality. The only way to get employees back to the office is to adopt a centralized policy requiring return-to-work for all agencies across the federal government. Seeking to cajole individual agencies to try to get employees to return to the worksite has not succeeded… No later than 5:00 pm EST on Friday, January 24, 2025:
The agency head or acting agency head should revise their agency’s telework policy issued under 5 U.S.C. § 6502(a)(1)(A) to state that eligible employees must work full time at their respective duty stations unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason certified by the agency head and the employee’s supervisor.
2. The agency head or acting agency head should email all employees notifying them of President Trump’s PM Return to In-Person Work, attach a copy of the PM, and notify employees of the agency’s intention to fully comply with the PM. (A copy of the PM is attached as Appendix 1).
3. The agency should notify OPM of the agency’s Telework Managing Officer, and assign that individual responsibility for complying with the guidance herein.

Agencies should advise OPM of the date that the agency will be in full compliance with the new telework policy. If an employee’s official duty station is more than 50 miles from any existing agency office, the agency should take steps to move the employee’s duty station to the most appropriate agency office based on the employee’s duties and job function. OPM recommends that agencies set a target date of approximately 30 days for full compliance with the PM, subject to any exclusions granted by the agency and any collective bargaining obligations…”