What Trump's return-to-office push means for Colorado's federal workers
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President Trump signed executive orders this week freezing federal hiring and ending remote work for all government employees, including those in Colorado.
The big picture: The orders aim to shrink the federal workforce — which employs tens of thousands in Colorado — and target what the administration calls "rogue bureaucrats and career politicians."
Why it matters: Colorado, a hub for remote work, could face outsized effects from Trump's mandate to return to full-time, in-person work.
- That's particularly true for Denver and Boulder, where the rate of remote work is significantly higher than the national average.
What they're saying: "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome," Elon Musk, head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, co-wrote in a November op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.
By the numbers: The latest U.S. Census data shows nearly 134,000 federal employees, including military personnel, worked in Colorado as of 2023.
- About 13.7% of that labor pool worked remotely, exceeding the national rate of 12.7%.
State of play: Trump has directed department and agency heads to phase out remote work arrangements "as soon as practicable."
- He also issued an executive order that effectively reinstates Schedule F, a controversial policy that strips employment protections from certain federal civil servants, making it easier to fire those deemed disloyal to the administration.
- Additionally, he has ordered federal agencies to move to close diversity, equity and inclusion offices and place DEI staff on paid leave by 5pm ET Wednesday ahead of being laid off.
What we're watching: Trump's orders are poised to reshape the federal workforce, but they also risk alienating talent in states like Colorado, where remote work has been a cornerstone of recruitment and retention.
- As federal employees weigh their options, the state could face a significant workforce shake-up — and the consequences may ripple far beyond the office.
Go deeper: Trump's return-to-office push will likely lead to talent exodus