Federal Employees Ordered Back To In-Person Work: Can I Still Request Remote Work As A Disability Accommodation?

During COVID lockdowns, federal agencies adapted to enable remote work. For some federal employees with disabilities, these changes made remote work a realistic option for the first time. Many did not formalize this unofficial workplace accommodation; there was no need to adjust a work arrangement that already accommodated their disability. But after President Trump's January 2025 "Return to In-Person Work" executive order, federal employees who had been relying on a remote work option were left in the lurch.

For federal employees with disabilities, the process of requesting reasonable accommodations at work can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming. In light of large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), however, the prospect of asking for "special treatment"—particularly remote work—can feel even more daunting.