INDIANAPOLIS — Newly-inaugurated Indiana Governor Mike Braun is taking swift action to eliminate remote, hybrid and work-from-home options for State employees. In March 2020, the State of Indiana took action to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing many Hoosiers to work from the safety of their homes. Braun is now saying - after five years - it is time to eliminate remote work options for Indiana employees. In an Executive Order filed earlier this week, Braun said that all full-time employees working for the State of Indiana must return to in-person work by the middle of the year. Specifically, all departments and agencies must have all workers return to the office by July 1, 2025. Click here to read the Executive Order The Order states that, since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was ended in March 2022, the "conditions necessitating non-traditional work environments have significantly improved." However, Braun says a "significant portion" of State workers are still on remote or hybrid schedules. In 2024, the State's Executive Branch reportedly logged 7,317,984 hours of remote work from 10,588 employees working under remote work agreements. In his order, Braun wrote that under an efficient government all State agencies are to be held accountable for how they spend taxpayer money. Particularly, the governor said this requires ensuring State employees operate to the best of their abilities while being paid with tax dollars. "While remote work was appropriate during COVID, its continued scale must be reevaluated to align with the fundamental mission of public service: ensuring accountability, responsiveness and efficient service," Braun wrote. "The pandemic has ended, and Hoosiers expect their elected leaders to promptly restore the public servant workforce to pre-pandemic status." Braun said that a return to in-person work will strengthen collaboration, oversight and direct engagement for Indiana's state employees. This, the governor argues, will maximize the State's civil workforce efficiency. NEXT: Governor Braun eliminates DEI initiatives from state government The governor also said that only "limited exceptions" will be granted under this Executive Order. He said any employee who has not yet demonstrated "satisfactory performance" in their job will not be eligible for remote work. Furthermore, Braun said that if an exception is granted for a State employee to do their job remotely, the remote work must be performed within the geographical boundaries of Indiana. Braun's Executive Order was signed and became effective immediately on Jan. 14. The order was signed by both Gov. Braun and Secretary of State Diego Morales. To read a full copy of the Executive Order, click here.