Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have proposed that Donald Trump require federal employees to return to the office five days a week. This initiative aims to reduce the federal workforce and eliminate what they perceive as the "privilege" of remote work established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musk and Ramaswamy argue that enforcing a five-day in-office requirement would lead to voluntary resignations among federal employees who prefer remote work.

They have been appointed to lead a new department focused on government efficiency, advocating for significant workforce reductions and the relocation of government agencies outside Washington, D.C. 

Approximately 50% of federal employees are not eligible for telework, and those who are spend about 60% of their working hours on-site, indicating that telework rates are comparable to the private sector.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, countered the notion that federal employees are not working in-person, citing data that contradicts this claim.

The Biden administration has faced scrutiny from Republicans regarding telework policies, with calls for more transparency on workplace flexibility.

Some federal employees expressed concerns that a strict in-person mandate would disrupt their lives, particularly those who relocated during the pandemic.

In their op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy also suggested: Conducting audits and improving procurement processes to save government funds. - Allowing the president to block congressional expenditures, a move they believe may require a Supreme Court ruling