Federal agencies across the U.S. have been told to wrap up remote work policies—ideally within 30 days. The move comes after concerns were raised about billions of dollars being wasted on empty office spaces, described as a “national embarrassment” in a recent memo.

The push to bring employees back to the office stems from worries that remote work isn’t boosting productivity or helping with hiring and retention. Instead, it’s reportedly hurting agency missions and services that rely on face-to-face interactions. To tackle this, officials are urging agencies to tie remote work approvals to performance metrics rather than employee preferences or union demands.

While some workers might still qualify for exemptions—like those with disabilities or medical conditions—the memo emphasizes that a broad return-to-office policy is essential. The goal? To clear out unused office spaces and cut down on unnecessary leases.

Agencies have been given a tight deadline to submit their plans, with a recommended 30-day window to get everyone back on-site. The memo makes it clear: coaxing employees back individually hasn’t worked, so a unified approach is needed.

This shift marks a significant change for federal workers who’ve grown accustomed to remote setups. Whether it’ll lead to better productivity or just more crowded offices remains to be seen. For now, the clock is ticking.