How will this play out?

[Anonymous]

Settle our dispute!

My boyfriend was permitted to work remotely in 2023. His home office was in DC and his federal agency allowed to work remotely in another state, where I live and am also a federal employee.

Earlier this year he was informed that he is now required to report into his agency’s local office full time, Monday through Friday, and was no longer allowed to work remotely from his home. He is also not authorized to telework. His official duty station in his SF50 was subsequently updated to the City, State where we live and where he is now required to report to the office each workday.

He seems to think that his agency can order him back to DC at any time. Is that true? He says since his home office is in DC, even though he was permitted to work here and has a job that can be done fully remotely, that he will have to go back.

I’m not so sure about that. I think now that his SF50 official duty station is updated to our current city and state, his agency will not be able to order him back to DC without his agreement.

So first, please let me know your thoughts on whether technically, legally, and according to actual federal employment rules that are supposed to be followed, is he right or am I right?


The last wrinkle is that we both recognize that this current administration is unpredictable and doesn’t pay attention to rules. We agree that they could send an email, even if totally counter to policies and procedures, and tell him to come back to DC and that they’ve decided they will update his SF50. BUT, if they don’t do that during the next 3 years and there’s a different administration… would a new administration that follows the rules and the law view him as now permanently working from our city and state, mow that his SF50 includes our location as his official duty station?

Thanks for any insight, expertise, ir experience that you can share. I don’t even know who I can ask about this stuff and he doesn’t want to ask his agency about it berate he’s trying to fly under the radar and keep his head down working.

[Anonymous]

Your duty station is where your SF50 says it is. They could change it back to DC but in that case they would have to pay relocation to DC. In the meanwhile, if they have him travel to DC they should be paying for that.

[Anonymous]

He can stay there permanently. It is now his official duty station.