Federal employees tell WIRED that Trump’s return-to-office mandate has resulted in widespread chaos

President Donald Trump mandated that remote and partially remote federal workers all must return to their offices.

More than 30 federal employees at 17 federal agencies tell WIRED the return-to-office order has resulted in widespread chaos, plummeting productivity, and significantly reduced services to the public.

At one Department of Homeland Security office, around 40 people were forced to work out of a single room.

The DOGE -enforced $ 1 spending limit on federal credit cards, enforced in February , has exacerbated the problem.

Tech issues have plagued the return of many federal employees.

The internet connection at his new office is “far worse than it is at home,” says one USDA employee.

The threat of a reduction in force, or RIF , remains a constant concern for employees as they return to federal offices.

“I’m just going through a depressive episode in part because of the nonstop uncertainty and stress,” says an employee at the DOD.

A USDA employee said they are now dealing with severe depression due to these mandates and general fear.