A new report from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s inspector general reveals that widespread violations of remote work policies occurred under the Biden administration, pointing to poor oversight and weak enforcement mechanisms.
The investigation examined access badge records, timesheets, and telework agreements for a sample of federal employees. It found that over half (58.1%) failed to comply with in-office attendance requirements. Nearly 30% had outdated or expired telework agreements, about 21% had inconsistent documentation, and 15% lacked any approved remote work arrangements entirely.
The report did not determine exact motivations behind the noncompliance but listed several possibilities, including potential fraud, employee negligence, and inadequate supervision.
Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order instructing federal agencies to end most remote work arrangements. The policy required employees to return to in-person work full-time by March 3, with limited exemptions permitted at the discretion of agency leadership.
OPM stated that it continues to evaluate remote work arrangements and has added internal controls to ensure proper adherence to updated policies.
