Trump Orders Federal Employees Back to Office, Critics Call it Hypocrisy
TL/DR –
President Donald Trump ordered federal employees to return to the office shortly after taking office, asserting that they could not be productive working from home. However, Trump himself has been working from his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida, resulting in millions of dollars in security and transportation costs. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration, particularly Elon Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency, has been slashing federal jobs and accusing the federal workforce of being lazy and wasteful, yet his agenda would add trillions to the federal debt.
Trump’s “Return to Office” Order Contrasts With His Frequent Mar-a-Lago Visits
Upon his arrival at the White House, President Donald Trump immediately commanded federal employees to return to office, arguing that remote work wasn’t productive. However, shortly after, he remained for the better part of a week at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach where he conducted work, including the signing of executive orders and holding a press conference.
Moreover, Trump playing golf during that period, an activity he criticized federal workers for, cost taxpayers. Trump’s frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago, causing millions of dollars in security and transportation costs, was seen as hypocritical by some federal employees. An employee from the Department of Education criticized the administration’s power dynamics, doubting the actual effectiveness of the “return-to-office” mandate.
Russell Vought, a principal author of Project 2025, and Trump have pointed out the federal government as bloated, resulting in job cuts. Yet, Trump’s initiatives would contribute trillions of dollars to the federal debt, according to budget experts.
The cost of Trump’s golf weekends to taxpayers has surpassed $18 million since January – as per an analysis. Also, Trump and Elon Musk have frequently criticized the federal workforce as wasteful.
Pertaining to Trump’s claim of fired federal workers being unproductive, a White House budget office report stated 54% of the 2.28 million-strong civilian federal workforce worked in person, while 46.4% were eligible for remote work. An employee from the Health and Human Services refuted Trump’s comments, arguing remote workers are more productive.
Despite Trump’s frequent Mar-a-Lago visits, he’s not the only president who traveled home at the expense of the taxpayer. Joe Biden often returned to his Wilmington home during his presidency, and his trips cost taxpayers $11 million.
Judicial Watch tracked presidential travel and estimated Obama’s vacations over eight years cost taxpayers at least $85 million. Commenting on Trump working from Mar-a-Lago, even as he ordered employees back to the office, Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, stated presidential golfing was a perennial issue.
Trump’s frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago appear at odds with his emphasis on waste reduction. Notably, his visits benefit his own business, leading to criticism about him profiting at the taxpayer’s expense, noted Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
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