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Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman ordered all DHS employees back to their offices Monday evening. The move follows President Trump’s executive order mandating a return to in-person work for federal employees.
Huffman’s order, communicated through an internal memo, effectively ends telework at the department. While acknowledging that remote work can be a useful tool, Huffman expressed concerns about potential abuse.
He cited statistics showing a significant percentage of work hours were performed remotely in 2024. At the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 28.9% of hours were logged remotely. The Coast Guard reported 24.4% remote work, while the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reported 39.7%.
Huffman deemed these figures “unacceptable,” emphasizing the agency’s policy is for employees to work primarily at their assigned duty stations.
Within 30 days, each DHS component must submit a report detailing any employees not yet back in the office. The report must include reasons for continued remote work and supporting documentation. Acceptable reasons may include lack of office space, physical limitations, or legal obstacles.
Huffman’s memo supersedes any previous agency guidance conflicting with the new return-to-office policy. This action aligns with President Trump’s broader mandate for federal workers to return to in-person work.