Trump’s RTO mandate divides federal workers: WaPo-Ipsos survey
WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES — A recent Washington Post-Ipsos survey reveals a division among U.S. federal workers regarding President Donald Trump’s mandate for a return to office, with 50% opposed and 49% in favor.
The survey highlights a disparity in perspectives based on the nature of the employees’ work.
Among those who believe they can perform their duties remotely, 85% are against the mandate. On the other hand, 70% of those who say their tasks require their physical presence in the office support the directive.
Impact of remote work capabilities
The survey highlights that 37% of federal government employees believe they can perform their jobs from home. This figure increases to 46% if U.S. Postal Service workers are excluded.
Notably, over a third of employees who can work from home have not been assigned an office workspace or desk. This lack of infrastructure could exacerbate tensions around the return-to-office mandate.
Elon Musk’s warning and job concerns
Elon Musk, tech billionaire and advisor to Trump, has taken a firm stance on enforcing the mandate. On his social platform X, Musk warned that “Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave.”
Those who ignored President Trump’s executive order to return to work have now received over a month’s warning.
Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave. https://t.co/7XRj6W21eX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2025
This echoes Trump’s earlier threat of termination for non-compliance. This hardline approach appears to be influencing job stability, with 20% of federal workers now seeking other employment opportunities.
Legal concerns and government efficiency
The survey also sheds light on concerns about the legality and effectiveness of Trump’s executive orders among federal employees.
Nearly 60% of those surveyed view the orders affecting their agency as potentially illegal. Moreover, 71%, express worries about the overall functionality of the federal government amidst ongoing mass layoffs. This sentiment is even shared by those who supported Trump in the 2024 elections, with only a fraction believing that these cuts will improve agency operations.
These findings come as the administration, alongside the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), intensifies efforts to reduce federal spending and revamp the workforce.
The survey, conducted between February 28 and March 10, included 614 civilian workers, providing a margin of error of 5.1 percentage points.
