Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's Remote Work Reckoning

By Armstrong Williams

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the future leaders of the soon-to-be established government-adjacent Department of Government Efficiency, have devised an audacious strategy to encourage federal employees to voluntarily resign: require that they show up to work in-person five days a week. 

Remote work is a fairly new phenomenon that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 onwards, amid the most severe phases of the coronavirus pandemic, federal employees, together with workers across the nation, carried out remote work to mitigate the virus's transmission - despite yielding dismal outcomes for curbing the virus. Yet, after the workforce experienced the benefits of a full-time salary and the elimination of travel and lunch expenses as a result of them not having to leave their homes, the idea of returning to the office to work became a daunting proposition. 

Prior to the pandemic, it was largely uncommon for those employed in conventional office positions, such as government roles, to work from home. From 2013 to 2019, around 23% of all workers engaged in remote work, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021, the figure approached 40%. In 2023, it stood at approximately 35%.

These figures represent the aggregate statistics. These figures fluctuate on an organisational level. Some companies have transitioned to an almost entirely remote workforce, while others have not. A 2023 report by the US Government Accountability Office, which surveyed the headquarters of 24 government agencies, indicated that 17 of these agencies operated at 25% capacity or less.

Bureaucracy is an issue that has always been a contentious issue within governance. Billions of taxpayer dollars are squandered due to legal requirements mandating that certain items undergo specific processes resulting in exorbitant costs to taxpayers. They create ludicrous situations, such as one absurd issue that occurred at the state level, where, in 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation constructed a public restroom at a cost of $100,000, not because it actually cost $100,000 to build a restroom, but because the lengthy procedure encompassing approvals, public hearings, design, and the mandated public bidding process incurred substantial expenses.

Bureaucracy and inefficiency have come to be one and the same. Bureaucracy exists because outdated regulations and excessive and oftentimes unnecessary oversight force the government’s hand and stifle innovation and responsiveness. 

The audacious goal put out by Musk and Ramaswamy will inevitably necessitate the termination of numerous hardworking government employees. As sad as it may be that many thousands of employees may be put out of work, the reality is that the positions slated for elimination are those that ought never to have been created in the first place, and substantial taxpayer funds should not continue to be spent on them merely to sustain their employment.

Musk and Ramaswamy face a significant challenge; merely streamlining the workforce responsible for unnecessary tasks is insufficient. They must revise the regulations to guarantee the seamless operation of all governmental procedures. All applications and projects must eliminate every superfluous link. It will enhance governmental efficiency and conserve billions for the American taxpayer.

The undeniable truth is that those working from home exhibit reduced productivity. Studies indicate that those who work remotely have a productivity decrease of 10-20% compared to those working in an office environment. This is obvious. At home, there is an absence of pressure, expectations, oversight, and demands to report to the office. If an individual intends to reprimand you, it becomes far more challenging for them to execute that action. Moreover, it is somewhat more challenging for them to continuously monitor your work and obtain regular updates.

The federal government cannot afford to be 10 to 20% less efficient. It cannot afford to be even a fraction of a percent less efficient than it is today. It requires enhanced efficiency. Our national debt amounts to tens of trillions of dollars. Individuals encounter difficulties in accessing fundamental government services, and public confidence in government has reached a historic low. The consequences are too significant for waste and redundancy to persist unregulated, and reinstating federal staff to the office is merely the beginning. of a long road of making taxpayer money work for the American people.

* Armstrong Williams is an American political commentator, entrepreneur, author, and talk show host. Williams writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column, has hosted a daily radio show, and hosts a nationally syndicated television program called The Armstrong Williams Show.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.