Source: Fortune
Summary
OPM Director Scott Kupor admitted to filming a video in front of a blank wall while working from home to avoid criticism over remote work. An audio recording from an agency meeting revealed Kupor’s concern about being seen working remotely. OPM communications team member Kiki Nyoh stated Kupor was on a day off. The Trump administration has pushed for federal employees to return to in-person work, with telework hours dropping by over 75% since 2025. Kupor, a former a16z partner, has argued that remote work hinders productivity and oversight.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Kupor films in front of a blank wall to avoid being seen at home.
He claims he was on a day off, not teleworking.
OPM’s return-to-office push has led to sharp declines in remote work.
Employees report negative experiences, with many resigning over work-life balance.
Author: Evan Null
Key Details
Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was caught on a hot mic admitting he filmed a video in front of a blank wall while working from home to avoid backlash over remote work. The audio recording, obtained by Fortune, shows Kupor expressing concern that someone would “give him shit” if it was known he was not in the office. Kupor, who joined OPM in July 2025, has been a vocal proponent of returning to in-person work, arguing that remote work can hinder productivity and oversight.
The Trump administration has aggressively pushed for federal employees to return to in-person work. In an executive order issued on January 20, 2025, the White House directed agencies to terminate remote work arrangements and require full-time in-person work, with limited exemptions. OPM followed up with an email in January 2025, instructing employees to return to the office by March 3. Since then, full-time telework and remote work hours across the federal workforce have dropped by more than 75%, according to OPM data.
Kupor, who previously worked at a16z for 16 years, has argued that even jobs that can be done remotely are negatively impacted by working from home. In a January 2026 blog post titled “Why Showing Up Counts,” he wrote that remote work makes it difficult to supervise a large workforce. His comments have been met with resistance from federal employees, many of whom have criticized the return-to-office policy as detrimental to work-life balance and morale.
A 2026 survey by the Federal News Network found that over 53% of federal workers reported a very negative experience after returning to the office, with 30% calling it somewhat negative. Nearly 93% of respondents said their work-life balance had worsened since the policy took effect. Some employees have resigned, citing the difficulty of managing work and personal life under the new rules.
Kupor’s actions and statements highlight the tension between top-down mandates and employee sentiment. While the administration pushes for in-person work, many workers are pushing back, citing the negative impact on their well-being and productivity. The situation reflects a broader struggle between corporate-style management and the realities of modern work life.
