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The largest federal workers union in the U.S. has pledged to push back against President-elect Donald Trump’s attempt to end remote work for federal employees.
The dispute centers around a contract signed during the Biden administration that extended remote work protections until 2029. Trump, however, has made it clear he plans to challenge the agreement in court.
Speaking at his first post-election press conference on Monday, Trump criticized the contract, calling it a "very terrible" deal and accusing the Biden administration of gifting unions an unnecessary concession.
“If people don’t come back to work, come back into the office, they’re going to be dismissed," Trump declared. "And somebody in the Biden administration gave a five-year waiver of that, so that for five years people don’t have to come back into the office.”
He continued by stating, “They just signed this thing,” referring to the contract, and described it as a “gift to a union.” Trump vowed to challenge it in court, making it clear that his administration would work to overturn the agreement.
In response, Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), promised to resist any attempt to undo the deal. Kelley argued that legally binding collective bargaining agreements must be upheld, regardless of a change in administration.
“Collective bargaining agreements entered into by the federal government are binding and enforceable under the law," Kelley said. "We trust the incoming administration will abide by their obligations to honor lawful union contracts. If they fail to do so, we will be prepared to enforce our rights.”
Kelley also addressed what he called misconceptions about the extent of remote work within the federal workforce. Contrary to the narrative that a large percentage of federal employees work remotely, he said, “Rumors of widespread federal telework and remote work are simply untrue.”
According to Kelley, only 10 percent of federal employees work remotely. For those who operate under a hybrid model, over 60 percent of their working hours are still spent in the office.
In addition to defending the legality of the contract, Kelley argued that remote work has yielded measurable benefits for both federal workers and taxpayers. He claimed that telework has increased productivity and operational efficiency while also strengthening the government’s disaster preparedness.
“We support telework where it delivers for both the taxpayers and the workers who serve them,” he stated. “Telework and remote work are tools that have helped the federal government increase productivity and efficiency, maintain continuity of operations, and increase disaster preparedness. These policies also assist agencies across the government, including the Social Security Administration, in recruiting and retaining top talent.”
Kelley’s comments highlight a broader debate about the future of remote work in the federal government. While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telework arrangements, many of those policies remain in place today.
Critics, including Trump, argue that workers should return to in-person roles. Supporters, on the other hand, point to the cost savings, productivity boosts, and work-life balance benefits that remote work provides.
The upcoming legal battle could set a major precedent for labor rights and the role of unions in shaping federal employment policies. While Trump appears intent on rolling back remote work privileges, the AFGE has made it clear that it will fight to preserve them.
The outcome of the case will not only impact federal employees but could also influence remote work policies for private-sector employers across the nation.
