Traffic, parking concerns grow as thousands of federal employees return to office Monday

WASHINGTON - There are concerns about traffic and parking in the Navy Yard area as thousands of federal employees prepare to return to work in the office as part of President Donald Trump's new mandate. 

The D.C. Department of Transportation posted on X Sunday, saying drivers and residents in the Navy Yard area should be prepared for heavy traffic. They suggest that workers find alternative means of transportation besides driving. 

What to expect in Navy Yard

What we know:

According to the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Washington Office of Public Affairs, nearly 17,000 federal personnel are expected to return to in-person work at Washington Navy Yard on Monday, Feb. 10. 

They say parking has been limited at Washington Navy Yard, with parking nearly at capacity before Trump's mandate. 

The Public Affairs Office says numerous employees have already been using alternative methods to get to the office. 

Officials say they have been working with local government officials and police to coordinate public safety and traffic control but they say federal workers assigned to the base and residents in the surrounding community should prepare for traffic congestion, increased foot traffic, and gate delays. 

"By preparing in advance and working together, we can navigate the challenges ahead," said Capt. Ryan Gaul, commanding officer of NSA Washington. "Let’s all plan ahead, demonstrate patience and understanding, and support one another to ensure a successful start to the workweek." 

Planning ahead

What they're saying:

To improve the situation, NSA Washington says it is implementing the following measures: 

• Increasing manpower at the vehicle and pedestrian gates to help expedite entry for vehicles and pedestrians
• Doubling the number of entry lanes throughout the installation to increase vehicle throughput
• Placing command volunteers at the garages to track capacity
• Communicating with base personnel throughout the week to increase awareness of alternative transportation and parking
• Communicating with base personnel throughout the week to reinforce awareness that nearly 17,000 personnel share just 4,473 parking spaces, highlighting the need for alternative commuting options
• Raising awareness about commuting alternatives and strongly encouraging the use

"We all have a part to play when it comes to safety," Gaul said. "The installation is committed to ensuring everyone remains safe while on base."

Trump's return to office mandate

Read the Order:

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that federal workers return to the office. 

It's part of his efforts to end remote work within the federal government.

Trump said early on that he planned to push back on former President Joe Biden's move to allow federal workers to remain in a hybrid work arrangement through 2029. 

"Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary," the order reads.

Trump's hiring freeze

Dig deeper:

As part of his sweeping changes to the federal workforce, Trump also ordered a hiring freeze on his first day in office. 

The order froze the hiring of federal civilian employees throughout the executive branch. 

The order stated, "As part of this freeze, no Federal civilian position that is vacant at noon on January 20, 2025, may be filled, and no new position may be created except as otherwise provided for in this memorandum or other applicable law." 

The freeze excludes military personnel and positions related to immigration enforcement, national security and public safety.