# Plain Language Summary: Federal Employee Return to Work Act

This bill would reduce pay increases for federal employees who work from home at least one day per week. Specifically, it would prevent these remote workers from receiving annual cost-of-living adjustments that other federal employees normally get each year. Additionally, remote workers would be locked into the lowest federal pay rate category called "Rest of U.S." regardless of where they actually live or work, and they wouldn't receive the regional pay adjustments that typically account for higher living costs in expensive areas like New York City or the San Francisco Bay Area.

The bill creates exceptions for certain employees who would keep their normal pay benefits even if they work remotely. These include people with disabilities who need remote work as an accommodation, Foreign Service officers, federal law enforcement, active-duty military members, and employees whose official worksite isn't a traditional office location. The restrictions would apply to regular federal employees in positions that normally have a physical office location but who are allowed to work from home.

In practical terms, this means a remote-working federal employee in Washington, D.C. would be paid at the national baseline rate rather than the higher D.C. locality rate, and over time their salary would fall further behind as colleagues in the office receive annual raises they don't get. The bill would effectively make remote work financially disadvantageous compared to working in an office, which appears designed to encourage federal employees to return to physical workplaces. The changes would take effect starting with the first full fiscal year after the bill becomes law.