DHS ends teleworking, requires employees to work in person

[Anonymous]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-dhs-ends-teleworking-requires-employees-work-person/story?id=117923097

“Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman on Monday evening ordered all DHS employees back to work, following an executive order from President Donald Trump on his first day in office, according to an internal memo obtained by ABC News.

The order effectively and abruptly ended teleworking at the department.

Huffman said that while remote work "can be an important tool under the right circumstances," it can also be rife with abuse.

Huffman said that in 2024, 28.9% of total hours worked the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 24.4% of total hours worked by U.S. Coast Guard personnel — a branch of the armedservices tasked with protecting our coasts — were done remotely.

He also said that for the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, 39.7% of hours worked were remote.

"These numbers are unacceptable," Huffman wrote. "It is the policy of this agency for employees to work at their duty station — whether in an office or in the field — to the maximum extent."

Huffman also said that within 30 days, each component of DHS would need to submit a report regarding all officials who have not returned to work, the reasons for it and documentation supporting the reason for each official's continuing remote work.

"Reasons might include lack of adequate office space, physical inability of the employee, or a legal impediment," he wrote.

"Any guidance, policy, or directive of this agency that is inconsistent with this memorandum is hereby rescinded, to the extent consistent with applicable legal requirements," Huffman added.

Huffman's instructions followed a return-to-work mandate for federal workers that was signed by Trump on his first day back in the White House.”

[Anonymous]

Wow whelp I guess the rest will follow suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-dhs-ends-teleworking-requires-employees-work-person/story?id=117923097

“Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman on Monday evening ordered all DHS employees back to work, following an executive order from President Donald Trump on his first day in office, according to an internal memo obtained by ABC News.

The order effectively and abruptly ended teleworking at the department.

Huffman said that while remote work "can be an important tool under the right circumstances," it can also be rife with abuse.

Huffman said that in 2024, 28.9% of total hours worked the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 24.4% of total hours worked by U.S. Coast Guard personnel — a branch of the armedservices tasked with protecting our coasts — were done remotely.

He also said that for the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, 39.7% of hours worked were remote.

"These numbers are unacceptable," Huffman wrote. "It is the policy of this agency for employees to work at their duty station — whether in an office or in the field — to the maximum extent."

Huffman also said that within 30 days, each component of DHS would need to submit a report regarding all officials who have not returned to work, the reasons for it and documentation supporting the reason for each official's continuing remote work.

"Reasons might include lack of adequate office space, physical inability of the employee, or a legal impediment," he wrote.

"Any guidance, policy, or directive of this agency that is inconsistent with this memorandum is hereby rescinded, to the extent consistent with applicable legal requirements," Huffman added.

Huffman's instructions followed a return-to-work mandate for federal workers that was signed by Trump on his first day back in the White House.”

Requiring the cybersecurity people to go into the office is....painfully dumb. Those people don't go into an office in the private sector. God, wait a waste of talent.

[Anonymous]

Sheesh. Who hurt this guy?

[Anonymous]

The pain is the point for these people.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he doesn't think homeland security is important enough to keep good people. Sounds like a doofus.

[Anonymous]

When? I'm not seeing a timeline or the level of specifics you'd expect to see in an actual government direction.

I believe that it's happening, but you don't issue something after business hours on a holiday and expect a full office the next morning.

[Anonymous]

I have a fever and cough. I was going to TW today bc I have a ton of work and don't want to infect anyone. But I guess I'll just take PTO and look for jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When? I'm not seeing a timeline or the level of specifics you'd expect to see in an actual government direction.

I believe that it's happening, but you don't issue something after business hours on a holiday and expect a full office the next morning.

Sounds like 30 days, since that when they have to submit a report on who isn't back in the office full-time.

[Anonymous]

These headline grabbing articles are just that. There are exemptions for lack of physical space or employee’s inability to return. Let’s see how this plays out with actual DHS employees.

[Anonymous]

Is he just ending telework or also remote workers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When? I'm not seeing a timeline or the level of specifics you'd expect to see in an actual government direction.

I believe that it's happening, but you don't issue something after business hours on a holiday and expect a full office the next morning.

Sounds like 30 days, since that when they have to submit a report on who isn't back in the office full-time.

It has to be less, you can't report out on something across a massive agency the day of the deadline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These headline grabbing articles are just that. There are exemptions for lack of physical space or employee’s inability to return. Let’s see how this plays out with actual DHS employees.

Yeah, I'm curious how lack of physical space is going to look as an exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he doesn't think homeland security is important enough to keep good people. Sounds like a doofus.

The last thing the Trump administration wants is good people working at federal agencies.

[Anonymous]

What a joke. There is not enough space in our offices for everyone.