On Monday, President Donald Trump filed an executive order requiring federal employees who were doing their jobs remotely to return to the office for in-person work. Here’s what we know.
More than 228,000 federal workers log in via telework across the country, and Trump previously announced plans to fire those who didn’t come back to the office five days a week.
He signed the executive order, which allows for some exemptions, just hours after being sworn in for his second term. Other orders signed on his first day included pardoning and commuting the sentences for almost 1,600 people who were convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, granting an extension on the TikTok ban and renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
The American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents 800,0000 federal workers across the nation, has already filed a federal lawsuit, seeking assurances the Trump administration and Office of Management and Budget comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
How many workers could that affect in Alabama? Here’s what you need to know about how many federal workers are in the state, how many might be affected.
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What does Trump plan to cut, reorganize?
In total, there are about 2.3 million federal employees. More federal jobs could also be at risk, depending on planned department closures and proposed reorganizations.
Trump has tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Initially, Musk said they could cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. However, that estimate has been downgraded to close to $1 trillion. (Multiple lawsuits have already been filed, arguing for transparency from the commission, and reports say Ramaswamy will step away soon to run for governor of Ohio.)
The federal government spent $6.75 trillion dollars in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Treasury.
Trump previously announced plans to close the Department of Education and revamp Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice.
Project 2025, a conservative playbook developed by the Heritage Foundation, also calls for realigning the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It also called for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to totally dismantled because of its work on climate change being “harmful to future U.S. prosperity.” The group wants some functions eliminated or moved to other departments and the National Weather Service to charge for its data-gathering services.
Trump initially distanced himself from Project 2025, but 31 of the 38 authors had ties to the president or his former administration, and he’s chosen several authors for key roles in his new administration.
How many federal employees are there in Alabama?
There are 40,692 federal civilian employees in Alabama as of March 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. That doesn’t include uniformed military personnel or federal contractors.
A House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report published on Jan. 15 relied on OMB figures. It said about 43% of employees were still teleworking as of September 2023.
Using those numbers, an estimated 17,498 federal workers in Alabama could be affected by the new executive order.
What exemptions will be allowed?
The executive order doesn’t specify, other than saying department and agency heads can grant them as deemed necessary. The text reads:
Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary.
This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law.
How many Social Security offices are there in Alabama?
The Social Security Administration’s Atlanta regional office says there are sites in 22 cities, including:
- Albertville.
- Alexander City.
- Andalusia.
- Anniston.
- Auburn.
- Bessemer.
- Birmingham.
- Birmingham East.
- Cullman.
- Decatur.
- Dothan.
- Fairhope.
- Florence.
- Gadsden.
- Huntsville.
- Jackson.
- Jasper.
- Mobile.
- Montgomery.
- Selma.
- Talladega.
- Tuscaloosa.
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What other federal offices are located in Alabama?
The U.S. General Services Administration counts 13federal buildings in the state, including:
- Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse,1129 Noble St., Anniston.
- Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse, 1729 5th Ave. North, Birmingham.
- Robert S. Vance Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 1800 5th Ave. North, Birmingham.
- Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 100 West Troy St., Dothan.
- Post Office & U.S. Courthouse, 101 Holmes Ave., Huntsville.
- New Mobile U.S. Courthouse, 155 Saint Joseph St., Mobile.
- John A. Campbell U.S. Courthouse, 113 St. Joseph St., Mobile.
- Federal Building, 109 St. Joseph St., Mobile.
- Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 15 Lee St., Montgomery.
- Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Annex, One Church St., Montgomery.
- G. W. Andrews Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 701 Avenue A, Opelika.
- Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 908 Alabama Ave., Selma.
- Federal Building & Courthouse, 2005 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa.
How many post offices are there in Alabama?
The United States Postal Service lists 887 offices in Alabama. More than 350 of those, however, are discontinued offices.
Are there other offices represented in Alabama?
Yes, other offices and departments operate in Alabama. How many employees are working in office or from home is unclear.
What other states could be impacted by firing federal workers?
States with large numbers of civilian federal workers include:
- District of Columbia: 162,000.
- California: 147,000.
- Virginia: 144,000.
- Maryland: 142,000.
- Texas: 129,000.
Contributing: Terry Collins, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Dan Basso, Riley Beggin
Bonnie Bolden is a Deep South Connect reporter with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at [email protected].
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