In the wake of the federal government’s push to bring employees back to the office, agencies like FEMA are facing a critical crossroads. While the intent behind return-to-office policies may be rooted in tradition, optics or perceived productivity, the reality is far more complex — and far more costly.
For employees with disabilities, these mandates are not just inconvenient. They are exclusionary, legally questionable and operationally unsound.
The Jan. 20, 2025, presidential mandate directing federal employees to return to in-person work includes a crucial caveat: It must be implemented consistent with applicable law. That includes the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which require agencies to provide effective accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
Yet, across the federal landscape, many agency leaders are misinterpreting this mandate as a blanket prohibition against remote work, even in cases where virtual accommodations are medically necessary and legally protected. This misapplication is not only harmful to employees, it exposes agencies to legal liability, reputational damage and operational risk.
At FEMA, the consequences of this misinterpretation are playing out in real time. In fiscal year 2025 alone, FEMA employees submitted over 4,600 reasonable...
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman on Wednesday announced a criminal investigation into potentially fraudulent childhood sexual abuse claims filed against the County under Cali...