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An unexpected directive circulated among employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this past Monday: submit a selfie to verify your presence in the office. This unusual request followed an announcement made Sunday evening, mandating that nearly all employees report to their physical workplaces on Monday, while canceling flexible work schedules that had allowed for compressed hours in exchange for a day off every pay period.
In the latest email, employees were instructed to include the background of their work area in the selfies sent to their supervisors. The message originated from a senior executive within DHS, as confirmed by a copy of the communication reviewed by Government Executive.
While some staff promptly complied with the selfie request, others sought authenticity verification. They were assured that the order was genuine and issued by senior officials within the agency.
In tandem with the selfie requirement, DHS personnel received additional notices regarding connectivity; they were instructed to log onto their designated in-office seating and network ports, with a warning that remote access would be revoked for employees who failed to comply by Tuesday. Exceptions were made only for staff members who are spouses of active-duty military personnel, those working from a distance greater than 50 miles from a DHS facility, or employees with previously approved accommodations.
Specific procedures were also rolled out for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) staff who had not been scheduled to work. They were assigned designated two-hour windows throughout the day to check in at their duty stations based on the initial letter of their last names. Employees assigned to work were cautioned that, even after logging in, they might be sent home due to crowded conditions. E-mails indicating these requirements began appearing around 9 p.m. the night before, with some staff receiving notifications as late as 4 a.m. on Monday.
As the situation unfolded, it became evident that the arrangements were being made on a somewhat improvised basis. An email to employees at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center encouraged those without assigned DHS space to report to the nearest facility to inquire about available workspaces until a consensus could be established amongst the various components.
One DHS employee reported to Government Executive that his team faced potential disciplinary measures, including termination, for non-compliance with these new guidelines.
This development is part of a broader push by various government agencies to ensure that staff members return to their offices full-time, in accordance with a directive from President Trump. Many agencies have been gradually implementing this shift, providing additional time for employees hired on a fully remote basis.
Several agencies are now entering the final stages of this transition. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun mandating that its remote employees report to physical offices, with some receiving forced reassignments to specific locations—one order indicated a requirement to report to the agency’s campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, by May 9, under the threat of job loss if not complied with.
Additionally, a remote worker from the Health and Human Services Department, classified as 80% disabled by the Veterans Affairs Department, received a directive to report to an office in Denver—a location over eight hours away from his current residence. The letter warned that failing to accept the reassignment could result in separation from his position and potential removal from federal service through the appropriate processes.
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