SBA Chief Kelly Loeffler Calls for Return to Office Amid Controversy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kelly Loeffler, recently appointed head of the Small Business Administration (SBA), sparked conversations over remote work policies during a video tour of her agency released on Friday. Loeffler emphasized the need for federal employees to return to their offices, citing that nearly 90 percent of them have been working from home.

In the video, Loeffler stated, “It’s my second day here at the SBA. I could not be more excited to be here. So I thought I’d take a walk. And what I found is that exactly what’s been said is true. About 90 percent of our employees are working from home. Well, that ends Monday with the mandate to return to work.” The clip has since garnered over 17 million views on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Critics argue that the federal government’s remote work policies lack accountability. Jeremy Carl, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Interior Department, commented on X, “The problem with work from home in the federal government is that the employees cannot be fired. When you don’t have to show up to the office… that is a recipe for disaster.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also expressed skepticism about remote work, calling for increased presence in government offices. Musk tweeted, “No one at work,” echoing sentiments shared by several lawmakers.

Despite the push for a return to in-person work, not everyone agrees with Loeffler’s approach. Market researcher Anna Matson defended remote work, stating, “This is one of the worst Trump policies. There used to be one parent at home and one that worked. Now, both parents must work to survive. Adding 2-3 hours a day to their workday significantly reduces time with their family. If we want to support families, work from home when feasible should remain.”

Furthermore, Loeffler faces scrutiny from Republican lawmakers regarding allegations of taxpayer-funded electioneering in battleground states, as well as the need for a more proactive stance on recouping misappropriated COVID relief funds.

As Loeffler navigates her new role amid these discussions, both supporters and opponents of telecommuting policies continue to voice their opinions. The SBA’s future direction under her leadership is still being closely monitored.