In a move to curtail remote work, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that federal employees must return to in-person work by early February or face termination. This declaration follows a series of actions by the new administration aimed at reducing government reliance on telework.

Speaking at the White House shortly before signing the Laken Riley bill into law, President Trump confirmed the new policy when questioned, stating unequivocally, "We’re requiring them to show up to work or be terminated."

This announcement comes on the heels of an email campaign launched by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Tuesday. The email, sent to approximately two million federal employees, presents a buyout offer for those unwilling to comply with the new in-person work mandate. The deadline for employees to accept the buyout is February 6th, with the expectation that most will be required to work on-site five days a week thereafter.

Employees who decline the buyout and refuse to return to the office will be offered a "dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program." This program allows employees to retain their current pay and benefits until September 30, 2025, regardless of their workload, and exempts them from the in-person work requirement during that period.

President Trump displays a letter from former President Joe Biden while signing executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025. (Jim Watson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

President Trump expressed his belief that this policy will lead to a smaller, more efficient government, a goal he stated has been pursued for decades. He also raised the possibility of requiring federal employees to demonstrate they weren't employed elsewhere during the period of remote work, citing potential legal ramifications for those holding multiple jobs. This presents a complex issue, given that an estimated 5.2% of the U.S. workforce, or 8.6 million individuals, hold multiple jobs according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

President Trump issued the return-to-office ultimatum to federal employees on January 29, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Trump-Vance Transition Team)

President Trump at a signing ceremony following his inauguration on January 20, 2025. (Melina Mara-Pool/Getty Images)

With contributions from Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner.

Breanne Deppisch is a political reporter for Fox News Digital covering the new Trump administration.