Trump’s executive order forces federal employees back to office
U.S. federal government employees, who were forced to return to office after President Donald Trump ended remote work, described workplace conditions as chaotic. Workers reported returning to cockroach infestations and a lack of desks, according to a report by Reuters.
Cockroaches and bugs at NASA
Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, called the situation “complete chaos” at NASA headquarters. The federation represents 8,000 federal NASA workers.
Biggs and a NASA staff member revealed that when employees returned last month, they encountered cockroaches on floors and bugs emerging from faucets, according to the report.
“If you don’t have a desk or a computer, you cannot do your job. People are much more unproductive,” he said.
Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokesperson, stated that approximately 1,000 people have been entering NASA headquarters daily over the past month. She acknowledged that the building, constructed in 1992, had been lightly used during hybrid work but assured that it had been maintained.
Meetings from cars, sleeping in vehicles
Biggs and other NASA staff reported that noise levels inside the building have forced many employees to take meetings in their cars, using personal hotspots for internet access.
Additionally, workers commuting up to 50 miles away are arriving before dawn and sleeping in their vehicles to avoid traffic delays before log-in time.
However, NASA spokesperson Warner denied reports of employees working from their vehicles. Regarding seating concerns, she stated, “We have more than enough space to accommodate our HQ workforce.”
Trump ends work-from-home
Soon after assuming office as the 47th U.S. president, Donald Trump signed an initial round of executive orders to assert control over the federal workforce, mandating a five-day workweek in-office.
The move aligns with the new president’s pledge to end remote work, a practice that became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic.