The White House is weighing whether to allow employees to telework in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The administration recently urged federal agencies to consider their teleworking policies and is now turning its lens onto 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Any decision would likely pertain to lower- to midlevel staff, a White House official told CBS News.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, activating powers to enact such measures as mandatory quarantines or curfews, stopping price gouging on items such as hand sanitizers, and freeing up funds to commit to the response.
“Telework? I wish,” one senior administration official told Politico. “I haven’t had a day off in weeks.”
Classified networks and secure computers for some West Wing employees make it difficult to work remotely. But other federal offices have started to follow the Office of Personnel Management’s directives to review telework policies.
Civilian employees at the Department of Defense were encouraged to work remotely and practice social distancing, according to a March 8 letter.
The Supreme Court closed “until further notice” to the public Thursday after a Justice Department lawyer reported coronavirus symptoms. The Capitol and staff office buildings were also shuttered Thursday to the public until April 1.
Trump said in a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Oval Office on Thursday that staying near the White House would be prudent but that he had not been directed to do so by White House doctors.
“It’s common sense,” the president said.
The White House canceled its annual Shamrock Bowl St. Patrick’s Day reception slated for Thursday evening, and the president’s next campaign rally isn’t scheduled until March 25.
The White House told the Washington Examiner that the president’s physician, Secret Service, and White House operations staff are working closely with federal agencies to ensure the health and safety of the president, his family, and all White House staff. “As we are all doing, Americans should continue to follow the CDC’s guidance on travel and public gatherings, which includes staying home if you feel ill, as well as frequently washing your hands with soap and water,” said spokesman Judd Deere.
