US Federal Government return to office policy5 days a week.

What the policy says.

• The memorandum directs agency heads to 'terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis', with exemptions they deem necessary; it took effect 'as soon as practicable'.
• OPM's December 31, 2025 guide says telework and remote work should generally not let employees avoid full-time in-person work unless an exemption applies (disability, qualifying medical condition, or another compelling reason certified by the agency head).
• Agencies must set procedures to verify that employees work full-time on site and that in-person, telework and remote hours are recorded accurately and reported to OPM.
• Implementing guidance: OPM memo (Jan 22, 2025), joint OPM/OMB memo on agency return-to-office plans (Jan 27, 2025), OPM FAQs (Mar 20, 2025).
• OPM data cited by Federal News Network: full-time telework and remote-work hours fell by more than 75% between January and October 2025.
• Gallup: the hybrid share among federal workers fell from 61% to 28% in 2025.
• Litigation and arbitration continue at the edges: an NTEU suit over stalled disability-related telework requests at Treasury and HHS, a June 2026 suit by DOJ attorney-advisors with disabilities, and an arbitrator order for the Forest Service to roll back RTO requirements (Federal News Network, July 2026).

How US Federal Government's policy changed since 2020.

1. March 15, 2020

   OMB memo M-20-13 directed agencies to maximize telework for eligible employees during COVID-19.

2. April 13, 2023

   OMB memo M-23-15 told agencies to 'substantially increase meaningful in-person work at Federal offices' while still using flexibilities.

3. January 20, 2025

   Presidential memorandum 'Return to In-Person Work' ordered the end of remote work arrangements and full-time in-person work.

4. January 27, 2025

   Joint OPM/OMB memo required agency return-to-office implementation plans (after OPM's Jan 22 guidance).

5. March 20, 2025

   OPM issued FAQs on return to in-person work.

6. December 31, 2025

   OPM issued the revised Guide to Telework and Remote Work in the Federal Government (CPM 2025-24) and required attendance verification.

7. May 2026

   Federal News Network survey of 7,463 self-selected federal employees: 76% reported being less productive since returning (non-scientific).

Sources and how sure we are.

1. 1.Return to In-Person Work (Presidential Memorandum) The White House, January 20, 2025
2. 2.Guide to Telework and Remote Work in the Federal Government (CPM 2025-24) U.S. Office of Personnel Management (copy hosted by DoD DCPAS), December 31, 2025
3. 3.M-23-15: Measuring, Monitoring, and Improving Organizational Health and Organizational Performance in the Context of Evolving Agency Work Environments Office of Management and Budget, April 13, 2023
4. 4.After returning to the office, federal employees report low productivity, morale Federal News Network, July 20, 2026
5. 5.Hybrid Work Gallup, September 28, 2026

Days a week are for most US corporate employees; some teams, roles and countries differ. Spot something out of date? Email hello@forgot.dev.

Other government employers, side by side.

• State of Ohio (state employees)5 days a week, since March 20255
• City of Chicago4 days a week, since January 20264
• State of California (state workers)4 days a week, since July 20264
• City of New York3 days a week, since June 20233
• City of Los Angeles2 days a week2
• State of Arizona (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
• State of Florida (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
• State of New York (state workforce)Each team decidesTeam decides

Working to an office rule? Plan the days that matter.

The hybrid work schedule template builds a week of office days for your team: anchor days everyone shares, the rest spread so the office never overflows. Then Forgot keeps office days, remote days and vacations on one calendar, so nobody commutes in for a planning day half the team is away for.