Trump admin goes on memo blitz to agency chiefs ordering pause to federal grants, return to office details
The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have been busy issuing a series of memos to federal agency leaders, outlining directives on various issues ranging from return to office instructions to pausing federal grants. These memos, obtained by Fox News Digital, highlight the administration’s focus on aligning federal agencies with President Donald Trump’s vision for government.
One of the key directives outlined in the memos is the return to office plans for federal employees. A joint OMB and OPM memo issued on Monday sets a deadline of February 7 for agency heads to provide a plan on returning staff schedules to full-time, in-person work. The memo emphasizes the need for agencies to revise telework agreements, provide timelines for the return of employees, and outline processes for exceptions based on disability or other compelling reasons.
This directive comes as President Trump has been vocal about his opposition to federal employees working from home, even after the pandemic and social distancing mandates have ended. On his first day in office, Trump issued an order calling for the termination of remote work arrangements, signaling a shift towards in-person work for federal employees.
In addition to the return to office plans, the OMB issued another memo on Monday that pauses all federal grants and loans, with the goal of ending “wokeness” and promoting efficiency in government. The memo calls for a temporary halt to all activities related to federal financial assistance, including grants and loans for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, gender ideology, and the green new deal.
Furthermore, the OPM issued a memo directing agency leaders to review government positions that could be moved to the new “schedule policy/career” federal employee classification created by President Trump’s executive order. This new classification aims to remove civil protections from federal employees in policy-influencing positions, making them more vulnerable to termination. Agency leaders have until April 20 to identify positions that would shift to this new classification.
Overall, these memos reflect the Trump administration’s efforts to realign federal agencies with the president’s priorities and vision for government. As agency heads work to implement these directives, the focus remains on promoting efficiency, ending “wokeness,” and ensuring accountability within the civil service.
