Tim Walz Steals From Trump’s Policy Playbook

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mandated Tuesday that Minnesota state employees must work in-person for half of the work week. 

Walz’s policy will take effect June 1 and require state employees to work in-person for at least 50% of their scheduled shifts, though it does carve out an exemption for employees who live more than 75 miles away from their primary work location. 

“Having more state employees in the office means that collaboration can happen more quickly and state agencies can build strong organizational cultures more easily,” Walz said in a press release.

The governor’s office also says in-person work will “support the economic vitality” of downtown St. Paul and other office districts.

Walz’s move mirrors that of President Donald Trump, who mandated in-person work for all federal employees on the first day of his presidency. The executive order requires heads of all executive departments and agencies to “terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.” (RELATED: ‘We Need People In The Office’: EPA Administrator Reveals Just How Few Federal Employees Show Up For Work)

“Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the COVID-era privilege of staying home,” Elon Musk and former DOGE leader Vivek Ramaswamy wrote in The Wall Street Journal in November. 

Trump’s decision came as part of his initiative to cut unnecessary government spending, drawing backlash from federal workers and the media. 

🔥🔥🔥No more showing up to work one day a month. If you’re going to collect a paycheck from the government, you actually have to show up to work!

President Trump signs order mandating federal workers show up in-person for work. pic.twitter.com/nYDZGeeQQK

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 21, 2025

Despite the outcry against Trump’s executive order, other states are also employing Trump’s government work model. 

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered state employees to return to full-time in-person work. Ohio state employees were initially allowed to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the executive order. However, this left 35% of state employees working either remotely or on hybrid schedules, according to Axios. The order went into effect March 17.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed an executive order on March 3 that would require California state employees to return to the office four days a week starting July 1. 

“In-person work makes us all stronger — period. When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases. That means better service, better solutions, and better results for Californians, while still allowing flexibility,” Newsom said, according to the Sacramento Bee.