Texas Agencies Ordered Back to Office, Ending Remote Work Policies

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas state agency leaders are instructing employees to return to the office full time by March 31, 2025, following a directive from Governor Greg Abbott‘s office to end remote work policies. The decision has created upheaval among state workers, many of whom prefer telecommuting for its productivity benefits.

The announcement comes via emails from agency directors, including Texas Workforce Commission Executive Director Ed Serna, who informed approximately 4,700 employees that exceptions to the policy would be limited and are still being finalized.

“Teleworking employees must return to the office on or before March 31, 2025,” Serna stated in a Wednesday email. Similar communications were sent from heads of other departments, including the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

This shift back to in-person work has led to concerns among agency leaders, tasked with managing workers in downsized office spaces intended to cut costs. Many state employees express dissatisfaction, stating they are more efficient when working remotely.

The abrupt transition aligns with former President Donald Trump’s call for federal agencies to cancel remote work arrangements, pressuring states to follow suit. Trump, along with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has threatened job loss for noncompliant employees.

“Federal workers will either show up for work in person or be removed from their job,” Trump emphasized in a recent address to Congress.

Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, acknowledged the influence of Trump’s mandate but did not clarify whether Texas would implement penalties for those who do not comply with the new guideline. “Texans expect their public servants to be present and engaged in the work on their behalf,” Mahaleris said in an email.

While state agencies have the authority to determine specific return dates, they’ve been urged to act swiftly. Insider sources within multiple agencies preferred to remain anonymous due to concerns over retaliation.

Texas comprises 114 state agencies employing roughly 141,000 full-time employees. On Tuesday, Courtney Arbour, executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, informed her staff that they must be back in the office “as soon as practicable.”

“We will continue sharing information in the coming days,” Arbour noted, although she did not respond to a follow-up request for comment from The Texas Tribune.

Myko Gedutis, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union, criticized the decision as potentially harmful to state agency operations and morale. “This doesn’t seem to be a rational decision,” Gedutis remarked. “It seems to be politically driven posturing that will undermine state services.”

Concerns regarding remote work policies have been brewing since last month when the Texas Senate Finance Committee hosted the Legislative Budget Board to review findings from a survey on remote work. Of 96 responding executive and judicial agencies, 92 permitted some level of telecommuting, with 80 indicating it positively influenced recruitment and retention.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reported significant cost savings totaling nearly $1 million annually from its remote work policy, funds redirected to vocational rehabilitation programs and other services. According to Serna, TWC has permitted remote work for over a decade, expanding these practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the legislative push, lawmakers remain concerned about the impact of remote work on the quality of services provided by agencies. “If you ask the customer who has to deal with remote scheduled people, I think the response would be an overwhelming, ‘This ain’t working,’” said Senator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock.

At the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the directive implies a challenge as officials face limited office space amid ongoing renovations. An anonymous employee voiced concerns, stating, “We quite literally don’t have physical places to put people,” emphasizing the logistical issues tied to the return.

As agencies navigate this new directive, many state employees remain apprehensive about how it will affect their work-life balance and the overall efficiency of state services.