Eligible Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees must work full-time at their respective duty stations unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason, following a presidential memorandum from President Trump issued January 20, 2025.
More than 20% of the VA’s more than 479,000 employees currently have telework or remote work arrangements. As part of the new policy:
- Political appointees, senior executive service members, SES equivalents, senior-level and scientific and professional employees were no longer be eligible for remote work arrangements after February 24, 2025, and their telework agreements terminated, except for ad hoc or situational telework
- By February 24, 2025, remote work and telework arrangements for supervisors with current official duty stations within 50 miles of an agency facility were terminated, except for ad hoc or situational telework
- By April 28, 2025, remote work and telework arrangements for non-bargaining unit employees with current official duty stations within 50 miles of an agency facility will be terminated, except for ad hoc or situational telework
- Remote work and telework arrangements for supervisors and non-bargaining unit employees with current official duty stations outside 50 miles of an agency facility will not be terminated at this time. Further guidance will be forthcoming regarding these arrangements.
- The VA’s policy allows exceptions for arrangements approved for employees as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability or a qualifying medical condition. Exceptions may also be allowed for military spouses with permanent change-of-station orders.
VA Secretary Doug Collins called the return to work a “great thing,” and in a video message, he emphasized the benefits of in-person work and the positive impact it could have on the VA’s mission to better serve veterans.
Reference
Veterans Affairs. VA announces return to in-person work policy [press release]. February 3, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-announces-return-to-in-person-work-policy/