Two facts: 1) fed employment traditionally has been modest. State and local gov has zoomed. 2). The feds are hopelessly outdated and technology deficient, as a result people are needed to process. NONE of the technology gains that have revolutionized the private sector (think Amazon, Ebay, virtual office, networking, etc.) has made it to government. You can only reduce staff by automating their work. The principal force against that is Congress and its minutiae in requirements on everything feds do.
You can beat the staff all you want, it's your local congressman (republican and democrat) that refuses to reform government. Fact is they are really too stupid to do so.
Exactly.
I work for the V.A. Just now they are looking at telework.
I worked remotely 15 years ago in private sector.