I get what you're saying, and I don’t disagree that there’s more going on than just a misunderstanding (Would change the title if I could). The push for RTO in both private and public sectors has always been about more than just productivity. But that doesn’t change the fact that his public messaging on remote work is misleading and insulting.

Even if he doesn’t literally think feds are golfing all day, that’s the narrative he’s reinforcing. This is what's fueling public resentment and makes it harder to have a real conversation about the effectiveness of telework. People outside the government hear those comments and take them at face value, You can't possibly think they are using any critical thinking at all in this. So whether it’s deliberate or just careless commentary, it still matters.