The Trump administration announced Wednesday that federal employees may now work from home or adjust their schedules to observe religious fasts and prayers, marking a shift from its earlier stance requiring full-time in-office attendance.

President Donald Trump had mandated on Inauguration Day that all federal workers return to their physical workplaces five days a week. However, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now urging agencies to take a more flexible approach. OPM Director Scott Kupor advised departments to allow remote work around religious holidays and to accommodate employees who need breaks for fasting or prayer by permitting them to work from home. If an agency denies such a request, it must provide evidence of a “significant operational impact.”

This policy marks a further softening of Trump’s earlier opposition to telework. On the campaign trail, he criticized remote work for federal employees and even warned of firing those who refused to return to the office. After the election, the OPM later introduced exceptions, such as for military spouses.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who played a key role in Trump’s government efficiency push, said in November that ending what he called the “COVID-era privilege of staying home” would likely lead to a “wave of voluntary resignations,” which he welcomed.

As of May 2024, a Biden-era report found that over 1 million federal employees—nearly half the civilian federal workforce—were eligible for at least part-time remote work, with around 10 per cent working entirely from home.

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