State governments across the U.S. have been moving to end remote work for public employees, with multiple states now having revised their telework policies post-COVID-19.

Why It Matters

Remote work became widespread during the pandemic, allowing governments to maintain operations while ensuring worker safety.

Since then, many employees have continued working remotely or on hybrid schedules. However, a growing number of states are now reversing these COVID-era policies.

President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance against remote work for government employees. In February, Newsweek reported that federal workers across multiple agencies were given deadlines by his administration to return to the office full-time.

What To Know

Several states have taken or are taking steps to bring state employees back to the office. These include:

Ohio: Republican Governor Mike DeWine has ordered state workers to return to in-person work full-time starting March 17. An executive order mandating this was issued by the governor in February.

Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Sitt ordered workers at state agencies to return to the office by February 1, 2025.

California: The state government has mandated that state employees return to the office at least four days per week starting July 1.

Texas: Governor Greg Abbott has ordered Texas state employees to the office full-time by March 31, 2025, The Texas Tribune reported on Wednesday, citing email obtained from agency directors.

Indiana: Governor Mike Braun issued an executive order eliminating remote work for state employees, directing them to return to office settings by July 1, 2025.

Nebraska: Governor Jim Pillen ordered an end to remote work for state employees back in 2023, requiring them to return to their offices full-time by January 2, 2024.

Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin scaled back telework policies for state employees in 2022.

It isn’t only state governments that are looking remove workers’ ability to carry out their work remotely.

A survey of more than 700 businesses last year found that 70 percent of employers were looking to haul their staff back into the office in 2025.

Major employers who mandated return to offices include Amazon, Disney, and Starbucks.

What People Are Saying

California Governor Gavin Newsom in a statement, as reported by The Associated Press: “In-person work makes us all stronger—period. When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases. That means better service, better solutions, and better results for Californians, while still allowing flexibility.”

President Donald Trump in a speech to Congress on Tuesday: “We ordered all federal workers to return to the office. They will either show up for work in person or be removed from their job.”

HR consultant Bryan Driscoll previously told Newsweek: “Remote work has been proven to be effective time and time again, with studies showing increased productivity, improved employee satisfaction and broader access to talent.”

What Happens Next

The trend of eliminating remote work in state governments is likely to continue as the COVID-19 pandemic retreats into memory, particularly in light of Trump’s push for a federal return-to-office.