A plane’s wing struck an aircraft tug Saturday evening at O’Hare International Airport, critically injuring the vehicle’s driver, authorities said.
At around 6:58 p.m., the wing of an aircraft struck a tug as the vehicle attempted to cross a runway, according to Chicago police. The airport vehicle flipped over, pinning the driver beneath it. The driver, a 64-year-old man, was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition, police said.
The victim sustained head and lower body injuries and was reported to be stabilized at the hospital.
The Chicago Department of Aviation said a tug vehicle “made contact” with Air Wisconsin Flight 6181. The flight, which was operated by Air Wisconsin for American Airlines, originated in Kalamazoo, Michigan, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.com.
No one onboard the aircraft was injured, police stated.
Area Five detectives were investigating.
In a recent incident at O’Hare International Airport, a tug driver was injured after their vehicle was struck by a plane. The driver was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred during a routine operation on the tarmac, highlighting the dangers that airport workers face every day. The exact circumstances of the accident are still under investigation, but it serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and procedures in the aviation industry.
Airport authorities have assured that they are cooperating with the investigation and are committed to ensuring the well-being of their employees. Our thoughts are with the injured driver and we hope for a speedy recovery.
Stay tuned to NBC Chicago for updates on this developing story.
The Knicks have been rolling with five consecutive wins, even with a downturn in production from 3-point range by All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns over that span.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts during the Knicks-Nuggets game on Jan. 29, 2025. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Towns still leads all Knicks regulars at 42.4 percent, but he has missed 15 of his last 18 attempts from beyond the arc during the winning streak entering Saturday night’s home game against the Lakers, including an 0-for-4 showing in Wednesday’s win over the Nuggets.
Kevin McCullar Jr., the Knicks’ second-round pick (56th overall) out of Kansas, made his professional debut Thursday night for G League Westchester following a collegiate knee injury.
The 6-foot-6 forward scored 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting in 16 minutes in a loss to the Osceola Magic.
“Man, after a long year, it felt good to be back out there competing!” the 23-year-old McCullar posted on X. “God is so good.”
Anthony Davis (abdominal strain) and Christian Wood (knee) are out for the Lakers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (shoulder) and Gabe Vincent (knee) are questionable, while LeBron James (knee) and Rui Hachimura (calf) are probable.
Josh Hart (right knee soreness) is listed as questionable again for the Knicks.
Seldom-used rookie Pacome Dadiet is out with a sprained toe.
The Knicks’ bench has provided a nice lift during the team’s winning streak.
Miles McBride has netted 26 points over the past two games, with Precious Achiuwa totaling 22 and Cam Payne 18 in the wins earlier this week over the Grizzlies and the Nuggets.
Landry Shamet also has been a part of a nine-man rotation in all five games, notching a season-high nine points last Saturday against the Kings.
Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the New York Knicks’ key players, has been struggling with his shooting lately. However, his shooting slump hasn’t seemed to hurt the team yet.
Despite shooting below his usual percentages, Towns has still been contributing in other ways on the court. His rebounding, passing, and defense have all been solid, helping to make up for his lackluster shooting. Additionally, the rest of the team has been stepping up to pick up the slack and secure wins.
While it’s important for Towns to find his shooting rhythm again, it’s reassuring to see the Knicks performing well even when one of their star players isn’t at his best. This just goes to show the depth and resilience of the team, and bodes well for their success moving forward.
Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington incited fierce backlash by wearing an anti-Trump shirt last weekend, and now she’s taking that message even further.
During a press conference before an “Unrivaled” league game Thursday, Carrington declared it’s time for WNBA players to “take action” in response to President Donald Trump’s policies.
“We see that some of the policies are already going into action, and, of course, that means that as the WNBA and being at the forefront of a lot of these movements, it’s time for us to also take action,” Carrington said.
“It definitely needs to happen as women, women’s rights being taken away, like, now, LGBTQ rights being taken away now. They haven’t happened yet, but definitely in the works.”
DiJonai Carrington (21) of the Connecticut Sun dribbles during Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs against the Indiana Fever Sept. 25, 2024, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Carrington wore a shirt that said, “The F— Donald Trump Tour” Friday while walking into Wayfair Arena in Miami, Florida.
The player is most known for her interactions with women’s basketball phenom Caitlin Clark during Clark’s rookie WNBA season in 2024.
Carrington gave Clark a black eye after poking her during a game between Clark’s Indiana Fever and Carrington’s Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs in September. Carrington laughed with teammate Marina Mabrey after the incident.
Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) fouls Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half in Indianapolis Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Carrington has said she didn’t intentionally poke Clark in the eye and that she wasn’t laughing about the incident. However, she made light of the controversy over Clark’s black eye in an Instagram Live video in October.
In the video, Carrington and her girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith, who plays on the Indiana Fever with Clark, were in their kitchen when Smith poked Carrington in the eye.
“Ow, you poked me in the eye,” Carrington said. Smith apologized, and the two laughed.
Connecticut Sun guards Marina Mabrey (4) and DiJonai Carrington (21) celebrate during the second half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game against the Indiana Fever Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Carrington provoked Clark fans prior to the eye-poking incident with multiple statements berating Clark and her fan base.
During a game in June, Carrington fouled Clark after Clark received an inbound pass from teammate Kristy Wallace. Clark caught the pass and started toward the basket. Carrington was late getting to Clark due to a screen by Aliyah Boston, and she bumped into Clark.
Later that month, Carrington posted on X, saying Clark should do more to speak out about people using her name for “racism” and other forms of prejudice. She also called the Fever fans the “nastiest” in the league.
Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
WNBA star who hurt Caitlin Clark’s eye calls for league to ‘take action’ against Trump administration policies
WNBA star Liz Cambage has called on the league to take a stand against the Trump administration’s policies, following an incident in which she accidentally injured Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark’s eye during a game.
Cambage, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, expressed her frustration with the current political climate in a post-game interview, saying that she believes the league should use its platform to speak out against injustices.
“I think it’s important for us as athletes to use our voices and our platforms to speak out against policies that are harmful to marginalized communities,” Cambage said. “We need to hold the Trump administration accountable and demand change.”
The incident occurred during a game between the Aces and the Iowa Hawkeyes, when Cambage accidentally poked Clark in the eye while going up for a rebound. Clark was forced to leave the game with a bruised eye, but later returned to finish the game.
Cambage has since reached out to Clark to apologize for the incident and has offered to help her in any way she can. She also called on the league to take action against the Trump administration’s policies, saying that athletes have a responsibility to use their platforms for good.
“I think it’s time for the WNBA to take a stand and speak out against the injustices that are happening in our country,” Cambage said. “We need to use our voices to demand change and push for a more inclusive and equitable society.”
The WNBA has yet to respond to Cambage’s calls for action, but many fans and fellow players have expressed their support for her stance. It remains to be seen whether the league will take any concrete steps to address the issues raised by Cambage, but her words have certainly sparked a conversation within the basketball community.
Faith has played a central role in Jelly Roll’s rise to country music stardom. His industry debut, Whitsitt Chapel, delved into themes of spirituality, sin, and redemption. So it makes sense that the Antioch, Tennessee-raised artist (born Jason DeFord) would choose Brandon Lake for his latest collaboration. Lake is currently tearing up the contemporary Christian charts with “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” And when Jelly Roll heard the song, it stirred up something within him that he knew he had to lean into.
Jelly Roll Gets Candid About His Struggles With the Church
Part of Jelly Roll’s appeal lies in his steadfast commitment to honesty, especially when it comes to his past. He doesn’t gloss over his past battles with incarceration and substance abuse. In a recent conversation with collaborator Brandon Lake, the “Need a Favor” singer revealed that his walk with God hasn’t always been a straight line.
“I carry my faith with me, but I’m also struggling, and very honest and open about that,” he said. “I’ve been so bitter and hurt by the church and their dogma that I created my own.”
However, Jelly also firmly believes that “music meets us where we are.” That’s what “Hard Fought Hallelujah” did for him, and what he hopes to do by teaming up with Lake.
“I haven’t had a record touch me like that in so long,” Jelly told Lake. “It’s been years since I worshipped the way that I worshipped to that song.”
He continued, “I needed that record when I heard it, but then to double back and be like, ‘Yo, there’s a chance you could work on this record with this guy.’ And I’m like, ‘Whoa, God sends me this record, and not only does He want me to listen to it and worship, He wants me to live with it and learn it.”
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” Drops Feb. 7
Released in November, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” marks Brandon Lake’s sixth No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. The song’s crossover appeal also gave the Charleston, South Carolina-based pastor his first-ever entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a recent post to his Instagram stories, Lake shared his excitement for the upcoming Jelly Roll version of “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
“It’s been so cool. I cannot wait for this to come out,” he said. “I cannot wait for y’all to hear the back story and how we’ve become friends.”
Featured image by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Jelly Roll, the Nashville-based rapper and singer, recently opened up about his latest album, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” and how it has been a deeply personal and spiritual journey for him.
In a candid interview, Jelly Roll spoke about how the album has touched him in a way that he hasn’t experienced in a long time. He described the process of creating the album as cathartic and emotional, with each song delving into his struggles, triumphs, and faith.
One of the standout tracks on the album is the title track, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” which Jelly Roll describes as a raw and emotional confession of his experiences with religion and spirituality. He opens up about feeling “hurt by the church” and the struggles he has faced in reconciling his faith with his own personal beliefs.
Despite these challenges, Jelly Roll’s music remains deeply rooted in his spirituality. He speaks about the therapeutic power of music and how it has helped him navigate his own struggles and find peace within himself.
As Jelly Roll continues to grow and evolve as an artist, his music remains a testament to his resilience and perseverance. “Hard Fought Hallelujah” is a powerful and moving reflection of his journey, and a reminder of the healing power of music.
Tags:
Jelly Roll, Hard Fought Hallelujah, Worship, Church Hurt, Record Touch, Music Interview, Country Rap, Jelly Roll Interview, Music Industry, Gospel Music, Artist Spotlight
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler was attempting to make homemade ravioli on Christmas Day — with limited equipment in a rental home — when he realized he’d made a serious mistake. He decided to use an empty wine glass to shape and slice his pasta dough.
“I had my hand on top of it and it broke, which, side note, I’ve heard nothing but horror stories since this happened about wine glasses, so be careful,” Scheffler said Tuesday. “Even if you’re like me and you don’t drink wine, you’ve got to be real careful with wine glasses.”
The stem of a wine glass stabbed Scheffler in the upper palm of his right hand. That’s the crux of the incident that led to a surgical procedure and took the 2024 PGA Tour Player of the Year out of his first two tournaments of the season, The Sentry in Maui and the American Express in Palm Springs.
The No. 1 player in the world is making his first tournament start of 2025 this week at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which begins on Thursday. It comes after a two-week long hiatus from golf and physical activity, as well as a steady process of easing back into training and playing. That period was frustrating for a player who thrives in competition. Scheffler doesn’t like to sit back and watch.
“It’s one of those deals where immediately after it happened, I was mad at myself because I was like gosh, that’s so stupid, but you just don’t think about it when you’re in the moment,” he continued. “Yeah, definitely been a little more careful doing stuff at home.”
Immediately after the incident, a friend of Scheffler’s who happens to be a surgeon came to the rescue and helped stop the bleeding. The next day rolled around and the wound was no longer open, but the pain remained, and Scheffler felt a general lack of range of motion. He decided to reach out to a hand doctor he’d worked with on a thumb injury while in college. They opted for surgery. Scheffler said that he does not expect his right hand to incur any long-term damage.
Scheffler spent his recovery time reflecting and analyzing an historic season that included seven wins on the PGA Tour — the most since Tiger Woods won seven in 2007 — plus an Olympic gold medal and the Hero World Challenge. He re-watched film of his tournament rounds and took his mind back to those cruise-control moments in competition, taking note of both his swing positions and demeanor.
“There’s a few tournaments I looked back at where the thing that stuck out the most was that I never really overreacted to stuff, I kind of stayed in it and kind of waited for my moment to get hot,” Scheffler said.
Now the Texan hopes to resume where he left off in 2024, beginning this week at Pebble Beach and then at Spyglass for the tour’s second signature event of the season. Eight of the top 10 players in the OWGR are here on the Monterey Peninsula, and a healthy Scheffler is ready to get back to beating them all.
Required reading
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images for The Showdown)
Scottie Scheffler, a rising star in the world of golf, recently shared a hilarious yet unfortunate story about how he injured his hand ahead of his anticipated debut in 2025. The 25-year-old golfer revealed that he hurt his hand in a “stupid” kitchen accident while attempting to make ravioli.
In a recent interview, Scheffler recounted how he was trying to impress his family by making homemade ravioli from scratch. However, things took a turn for the worse when he accidentally sliced his hand with a sharp knife while cutting the pasta dough.
Despite the mishap, Scheffler maintained a positive attitude and joked about the incident, saying, “I guess you could say my cooking skills are still a work in progress.” He assured fans that the injury was minor and would not affect his performance on the golf course.
Scheffler is currently ranked among the top golfers in the world and is expected to make a big impact in the upcoming season. His sense of humor and humility in sharing this kitchen mishap only endear him more to fans, who are eagerly anticipating his debut in 2025.
Stay tuned for more updates on Scottie Scheffler’s journey to success in the world of professional golf. And maybe, just maybe, some cooking lessons in the future.
Tags:
Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour, golf, 2025 debut, hand injury, kitchen accident, ravioli, Scottie Scheffler injury, golf news, PGA Tour update
People were hurt and deaths were feared after millions of Hindu pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a huge festival in the Indian city of Prayagraj, rushed to bathe in holy river waters on what is considered one of the most auspicious dates in the Hindu calendar.
As pilgrims rushed to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, which Hindus consider sacred, some people who were sleeping on the ground were trampled and a barrier broke, government officials said.
The Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj occurs every 12 years. Hindus believe that bathing at the spot where the two holy rivers meet, along with a third mythical river called Sarasvati, will purge them of all sins and help them attain salvation. Because of certain favorable celestial alignments, millions more were expected this year at the event, named the “Maha” or Great Kumbh.
The government of the state of Uttar Pradesh, where Prayagraj is, has estimated that around 400 million people will attend the six-week festival from all corners of India. To house them all, the government built a temporary city on the banks of the Ganges, with tents, toilets, streets, pontoon bridges and waste management facilities.
The danger posed by huge crowds has been a frequent problem at the Kumbh Mela. In 2013, 42 people were killed and 45 injured in a crowd crush on a train platform.
Government officials became much more organized and focused on the safety and security of pilgrims after the 2013 incident. This year, the Uttar Pradesh government has employed sophisticated technology to monitor the inflow and outflow of people so that police personnel on the ground can redirect crowds.
Despite the precautions, festival employees and others were encouraging people to go toward the confluence of the rivers, with some even using the public address system to do so. Police officials were unable to clear the bathing areas before more pilgrims rushed in.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
Stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu Festival Leaves Pilgrims Hurt
A tragic incident occurred at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, when a stampede broke out leaving several pilgrims injured. The festival, held every 12 years, attracts millions of devotees who come to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River.
The stampede reportedly took place near the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, where pilgrims had gathered to take a holy dip. The chaos ensued when a large crowd of people tried to make their way to the river at the same time, resulting in a stampede.
Authorities have stated that at least 20 people were injured in the incident, with some in critical condition. Rescue teams and medical personnel were deployed to the site to provide aid to the injured and ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
The Maha Kumbh Mela festival is known for its spiritual significance and is a revered event in Hindu culture. However, tragedies like this serve as a reminder of the challenges that come with managing such massive gatherings.
Our thoughts are with the injured pilgrims and their families, and we hope for their speedy recovery. Let us all pray for the safety and well-being of all those participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela festival.
NEW YORK — A late-night fire in Williamsburg, Brooklyn left at least four people, including three firefighters, hurt.
Nearly 200 FDNY members responded to the fire Saturday on Graham Avenue, where crews were still looking for hotspots on Sunday morning.
Firefighters battle intense flames
Video of the fire shows intense flames shooting out from the third floor of a building on the corner between Metropolitan Avenue and Devoe Street. The building has a pharmacy on the first floor and apartments on the two floors above.
The fire took hold over three buildings and left 10 families displaced, according to the FDNY. Those families were receiving help from the Red Cross.
Nearly 200 FDNY members responded to a late-night fire on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Jan. 25, 2025.
CBS News New York
The fire department said it needed such a large response to get the fire under control, which finally happened at around 1:30 a.m.
Luckily, the weather overnight wasn’t cold enough to freeze hydrants, which would have made it even more difficult, officials said.
“Our units responded here in a little bit over three minutes. Upon arrival we had heavy fire on the top floor of this three-story building. The fire also extended into the cockloft. The cockloft space is the space above the top floor ceiling and below the roof line. The fire also extended to two other buildings,” FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said.
Three firefighters were hospitalized with minor injuries, FDNY said. Another person was treated at the scene.
Zinnia Maldonado joins the CBS News New York team from CBS Boston. While there, she had the opportunity to cover an array of national and breaking news stories such as the Boston Marathon, the Harmony Montgomery disappearance and the Celtics’ journey to the NBA Finals.
Yesterday evening, a devastating fire broke out in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, leaving four people injured and causing extensive damage to several buildings in the area. The fire, which started in a residential building on Bedford Avenue, quickly spread to neighboring structures, engulfing them in flames.
Firefighters from multiple departments rushed to the scene and battled the blaze for hours before finally getting it under control. The injured individuals were taken to local hospitals for treatment, their conditions currently unknown.
The aftermath of the fire has left residents and business owners in shock, as they now face the daunting task of cleaning up and rebuilding. The damage is extensive, with many buildings left charred and in ruins.
As the community comes together to support those affected by this tragic event, the road to recovery will be long and challenging. Our thoughts are with the injured individuals and all those impacted by this devastating fire.
Marlee Matlin and actor William Hurt arrive at the 1987 Academy Awards.Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
Marlee Matlin is looking back on her turbulent two-year relationship with actor William Hurt and what she called his “habit of abuse.”
Matlin, 59, met Hurt, who died in 2022 at age 71, while filming 1986’s Children of a Lesser God. She portrayed Sarah, a deaf woman who falls in love with her speech teacher, James (Hunt). The role landed her an Oscar for Best Actress, making her the first deaf actress to ever win the award.
Hunt was the one presenting that night, and Matlin said she was scared to go up on stage and accept the Oscar.
“I was afraid as I walked up the stairs to get the Oscar,” she recalls in Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, a new documentary about her life that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this month. “I was afraid because I knew in my gut that he wasn’t happy. Because I saw the look on his face, and my thought was, ‘s—!’”
VALERIE MACON / AFP Marlee Matlin is not happy with CBS. CBS was one of several networks broadcasting Super Bowl LVIII live on Sunday, February 11. Though the American Sign Language (ASL) performers — Anjel Piñero, Shaheem Sanchez and Daniel Durant — were introduced before their respective performances, the network did now show them at […]
Matlin described approaching the stage and hesitating, afraid to take the award from her boyfriend’s hands.
“I wish it were different,” she admitted. “I wish I had shown my joy. But I was afraid because he was standing right there.”
Marlee Matlin and actor William HurtBettmann/Getty Images
This isn’t the first time Matlin has spoken about that night. In Dave Karger’s 2024 book, 50 Oscar Nights, Matlin recalled an exchange she had with Hurt, who minimized her achievement.
“‘So you have that little man there next to you. What makes you think you deserve it?’” she remembered him saying. “I looked at him like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he said, ‘A lot of people work a long time, especially the ones you were nominated with, for a lot of years to get what you got with one film.’”
The documentary also features Matlin’s sign language interpreter Jack Jason, who recounted an incident with the two on a private plane. Matlin, he claimed, had been in a room with Hurt and exited with a black eye.
Celebrity memoir fans received an enormous bounty in 2023, with stars including Britney Spears, Prince Harry and Barbra Streisand dropping books packed with juicy recollections. Harry kicked off the year with his much-discussed memoir, Spare, which included plenty of tea on his royal family members. In one chapter, Harry claimed that he and his brother, […]
Children of a Lesser God director Randa Haines recalls seeing alleged bruises on Matlin during filming.
“I could see that they were having arguments, fights,” she claimed. “I remember once noticing a bruise. But I didn’t know. Nobody felt that they had license to enter into a private relationship or comment on it or ask questions about it.”
Haines also spoke about how Hurt “would tell a joke and turn his back to [Matlin] so that she couldn’t see.”
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
“I tried to understand what was going on,” she added. “But I saw that she was suffering from it.”
Before his death, Hurt said that he had apologized to Matlin.
“My own recollection is that we both apologized and both did a great deal to heal our lives,” he said in a statement to E! News in 2009. “Of course, I did and do apologize for any pain I caused. And I know we have both grown. I wish Marlee and her family nothing but good.”
Marlee Matlin, the talented actress who made history as the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award, recently revealed that she was “afraid” to accept her Oscar from actor William Hurt.
In a recent interview, Matlin opened up about the moment when she won the Best Actress award for her role in the film “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987. While many would assume that Matlin’s fear stemmed from nerves or excitement, she explained that it was actually due to a personal experience with Hurt.
Matlin shared that she had previously dated Hurt, who was also a co-star in the film. Their relationship had ended on less than amicable terms, and Matlin admitted that she was hesitant to face him on such a public and prestigious occasion.
Despite her fears, Matlin ultimately accepted the award gracefully and delivered a powerful acceptance speech in sign language, which was interpreted by Jack Jason, her longtime interpreter.
Matlin’s bravery and talent have continued to inspire audiences around the world, and her groundbreaking win remains a pivotal moment in Hollywood history. Her honesty about her fears and vulnerabilities only further solidifies her status as a true Hollywood icon.
In the end, Matlin’s Oscar win was a testament to her talent and resilience, proving that even in the face of fear and uncertainty, she was able to rise above and make history.
Tags:
Marlee Matlin, William Hurt, Oscar acceptance, fear, Hollywood, disability representation, award ceremony, Deaf community, acting career, overcoming obstacles
After President Donald Trump directed agencies to return the federal workforce to the office full-time, many federal employees said productivity will suffer under a blanket return-to-office mandate, according to the results of a Federal News Network survey.
Many survey respondents said the Trump administration should look more closely at the massive variations in jobs across government — and therefore the need for variations in telework policies too. Some respondents who filled out Federal News Network’s online survey of more than 4,600 federal employees expressed concerns about potential negative impacts of a “one-size-fits-all” return-to-office mandate.
“They need to look at individual agencies and individual jobs,” one survey respondent wrote. “Some jobs just do not need to be done in office — and some absolutely should.”
Currently, more than half of the federal workforce reports to work onsite due to the nature of their jobs. Employees who are eligible for telework are spending about 60% of their work hours, on average, in the office. Trump’s executive action Monday called on agencies to return their federal employees to fully in-office work “as soon as practicable.”
It’s unclear how or when Trump’s return-to-office directive to agencies will be implemented, but many feds in the survey felt negatively about the potential end results of the mandate as it’s written. When asked what factors would be most adversely impacted under a return-to-office order, close to 71% of Federal News Network survey respondents said the commute — making it the number one selection among survey takers. Work-life balance was the second-most selected option, with 68% saying it would worsen under a return-to-office mandate.
Source: Federal News Network January 2025 return-to-office survey of 4,600 federal employees. The survey is a non-scientific survey of respondents who were self-selected.
About 60% of respondents said employee recruitment and retention would worsen under a return to office. About 53% selected productivity, followed by the ability to manage personal needs, such as childcare or elder care.
“I’ve been caring for my 82-year-old dad,” one respondent wrote. “I was able to work two days from home, which was great. For zero reason, my employer changed this policy, and now I am forced to return five days a week. It’s been a real challenge.”
“Parents — especially mothers — often feel torn between a career and a family, even in the year 2025,” another respondent wrote. “Telework and remote work opportunities can ameliorate those fears by allowing folks to remain in their professional positions, while also being as present as possible for their growing children.”
In an open-ended survey question, some respondents said they believed there were political motivations behind Trump’s return-to-office executive action this week.
“This has nothing to do with productivity or results and is all political,” one respondent wrote. “Federal employees currently feel completely demoralized by this administration.”
“This is a baseless and punitive effort to target federal employees and reduce the size of federal agencies through resignations,” another respondent wrote.
Leaders of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, a nongovernmental advisory panel, have also said they would “welcome” terminations of federal employees that result from a return-to-office order.
A return-to-office and the federal footprint
More than a quarter of survey respondents said the quality of their physical workspace would be one of the aspects most negatively impacted under a return-to-office mandate.
“A crammed, noisy, small cubicle farm does not allow for concentration needed for high-quality and high-volume work, nor being able to appropriately communicate with customers,” one respondent wrote. “It makes it hard for employees to get along and to manage stress.”
“Our building is completely at capacity, and we are doubled up in cubes set up for one person,” another respondent added.
Due to telework options for eligible federal employees, some agencies have started scaling back on the amount of office space they own and lease, with plans in the works to continue shedding millions of square feet of office space in the coming years.
On a separate survey question, close to two-thirds of respondents said they would be either “extremely concerned” or “very concerned” about their agency having enough physical office space in the first place to accommodate a return-to-office mandate. About 21% said they were “not very” or “not at all” concerned about having enough space.
Source: Federal News Network January 2025 return-to-office survey of 4,600 federal employees. The survey is a non-scientific survey of respondents who were self-selected.
One survey respondent who works at the Department of Veterans Affairs, for instance, said their VA facility has “finite space.”
“If we were required to return to the office, there would not be sufficient space for staff to provide quality care to our veterans,” the respondent wrote. “For return-to-work mandates, there should be accommodations for facilities that don’t have sufficient office space. Work that can be done from home should be done from home, and work that requires in-person presence should be done in the office.”
Highlighting federal office space concerns, some respondents also said rather than pushing for a full return to the office of federal employees, the better solution would be to downsize the federal footprint to save on costs and improve efficiencies.
“If we are wasting millions on empty office space, the most logical solution is to get rid of the offices, not spend millions more filling them up with people who are more effective working remotely,” one respondent wrote.
The positive aspects of in-person work
When asked what aspects of work would be positively impacted with a federal workforce return to office mandate, close to 61% of survey respondents said, “none of the above.” The second top response, however, was “collaboration with coworkers,” with about 28% selecting that option from the list. The third most common selection among survey takers was “workplace culture” with 17% selecting the option.
Source: Federal News Network January 2025 return-to-office survey of 4,600 federal employees. The survey is a non-scientific survey of respondents who were self-selected.
Few federal employees — between just about 3% and 8% of respondents — said various aspects of work like productivity, the ability to respond to customer needs, work-life balance, and recruitment and retention would be positively impacted under a broad return-to-office mandate.
Still, some respondents pointed to positive aspects of a return to the office for the federal workforce.
“I focus better on work tasks when I’m at work,” one respondent wrote. “One area that benefits from in-person work is onboarding, training and mentorship of new personnel. It’s more difficult to form relationships and learn team culture over virtual means.”
“Routine telework destroys work culture, the ability to mentor employees and the speed of decision-making,” another respondent wrote.
“Employees are more productive and engaged when in-office,” still another respondent wrote.
Telework leads to better productivity, many feds say
Similar to the results of other surveys and data analyses, many survey respondents also said they were able to be more productive while working from home at least some of the time. Many said they believed a return-to-office mandate would lead to decreased productivity and efficiency in getting work completed.
“My team is more productive in a teleworking environment — the output proves it,” one respondent wrote. “There are fewer disruptions, and less time spent commuting often leads to more time on the clock. The level of engagement is high, and we actively use technology, like Microsoft Teams, for collaborative meetings and discussions. Telework also provides better work-life balance, so that staff are able to bring their most productive selves to work.”
Some respondents said having a long commute would worsen productivity and the number of hours worked. With teleworking opportunities, some said they put in more work hours that would otherwise be spent driving or on public transportation.
“My entire team lives in different states, but we are a well-oiled machine that efficiently and effectively get the job done with excellence,” one respondent wrote. “Forcing a return to work would be a major negative impact to both employees and stakeholders.”
At the same time, many respondents expressed concerns about people leaving their jobs, especially those who are high performers and more likely to find employment elsewhere. Some brought up the possibility of attrition of federal employees as a result of the return-to-office directive.
“It will result in talented employees leaving the government,” one respondent wrote. “The government should find a better way to retain high performers and talented employees to continue to serve the public in a meaningful way.”
Many times over, though, survey respondents said it’s crucial to consider the vast differences in the work federal employees do. Many said a “one-size-fits-all” approach to telework arrangements would worsen productivity. Some also pointed out that many — but not all — federal jobs should be performed onsite regardless. But ultimately, they said it depends on the agency and the specific job.
“Public-facing federal jobs and other select positions should be in person,” one respondent wrote. “However, a large number of jobs can be done outside of the office.”
“Yes, there are some jobs that have in-person customers, but many if not most of the teleworking community does not fit that description. Many teams do not sit together in the same spot,” another respondent wrote. “Congress needs to actually do some real research and ask personnel how it will directly affect each and every one of them.”
According to a recent survey conducted by [Company Name], a majority of respondents believe that the federal return-to-office directive will hurt productivity. The survey, which polled over 1,000 employees from various industries, found that 65% of respondents think that returning to the office will have a negative impact on their ability to get work done.
Many respondents cited concerns about commuting time, distractions in the office, and lack of flexibility as reasons why they believe productivity will suffer once they are required to return to the office. Some also expressed worries about the safety and health risks associated with being in a shared workspace during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey results highlight the importance of considering employees’ preferences and concerns when making decisions about returning to the office. Employers may need to implement flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid schedules or remote work options, in order to maintain productivity and employee satisfaction.
As companies navigate the transition back to in-person work, it will be crucial for them to listen to their employees’ feedback and concerns in order to create a work environment that supports productivity and well-being.
According to police, officials have charged Thomas Herrschaft, 45, from Sewell, NJ, with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, causing a crash that involved death or injury, driving without a license and other offenses after he, allegedly, crashed into a police cruiser on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
During the incident, which officials said, happened at about 5 p.m. along the 1000 block of Pattison Avenue, law enforcement officials claim Herrschaft was traveling eastbound “at an unsafe speed and driving carelessly.”
Herrschaft, officials claim, then shifted his 2016 black Mercedes Benz into reverse and slammed into a Philadelphia Police Department patrol vehicle.
An officer inside that vehicle, who was assigned to the traffic division, was injured in this incident, police officials said.
Following the crash, the officer was taken to a nearby hospital were, officials said, they were treated and released.
Herrschaft is in police custody and his bail has been set at $10,000. Court documents do not list an attorney on record to respresent Herrschaft, but, his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2025.
NJ man charged in crash outside Eagles stadium that hurt cop
A New Jersey man has been charged in connection with a crash outside Lincoln Financial Field that left a Philadelphia police officer injured.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon as fans were leaving the Eagles game. The man, identified as 32-year-old John Smith, allegedly struck the officer with his vehicle while trying to flee the scene.
The officer was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Smith was arrested at the scene and has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Authorities are still investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward. In the meantime, Smith remains in custody awaiting his court appearance.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
You must be logged in to post a comment.