EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

March 15, 2020
M-20-15

FROM:

Russell T. Vought
Acting Director

SUBJECT:

Updated Guidance for the National Capital Region on Telework Flexibilities in
Response to Coronavirus

In light of the evolving situation concerning the coronavirus ("COVID-19") and the
National Capitol Region (NCR) experiencing community transmission, the Administration wants
to ensure that department and agency leaders assertively safeguard the health and safety of their
workforce while remaining open to serve the American people and conduct mission critical
functions.
All Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies within the National Capital
Region (NCR), consistent with OMB's recent guidance (0MB M-20-13), are asked to offer
maximum telework flexibilities to all current telework eligible employees, consistent with
operational needs of the departments and agencies as determined by their heads. In addition, we
encourage agencies to use all existing authorities to offer telework to additional employees, to
the extent their work could be telework enabled. If employees are not eligible for telework,
agency heads have the discretion to offer weather and safety leave, or the agency's equivalent,
including for employees who may not have been considered "at higher risk" under 0MB M-2013. Furthermore, agency heads should develop an operational plan that maximizes resources and
functional areas to most safely and efficiently deliver these mission-critical functions and other
Government services (including but not limited to staggered work schedules and other
operational mitigation measures).
We encourage agencies to consult with current CDC operating guidance

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community-mitigation-strategy.pdf to maximize

safe working environments and implement substantial mitigation strategies for the workplace.