Opm: opm sets 2-hour delayed arrival for D.C.-area feds on Monday

The Office of Personnel Management announced a two-hour delayed arrival for federal employees in the Washington, D. C. metro area on Monday, and highlighted options for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. The OPM decision follows snow that began to fall and stick to the ground Sunday and aims to give local transportation departments time to clear roads.

Opm decision and timing

OPM initiated the two-hour delay Sunday afternoon as snow started to fall and stick across the region. Employees should plan to arrive for work no more than two hours later than their normal expected arrival time. Emergency employees are expected to report to the worksite on time unless their agencies provide alternative directions.

Employee categories and guidance

Guidance for telework and non-telework staff is detailed. Telework employees not scheduled to telework but requesting unscheduled telework must be prepared to telework, take unscheduled leave, or use other paid time off to cover the entire workday. Weather and safety leave is generally not available for these telework employees who do not report to the office.

Remote workers and telework employees who are already scheduled to telework are expected to begin their workday on time; they may request unscheduled leave if needed, but weather and safety leave is generally not available to remote and telework employees who do not report to the office. Non-telework employees, and telework employees not scheduled to telework and not requesting unscheduled telework, are expected to either report to the office and receive weather and safety leave for up to two hours past their normal arrival time or request unscheduled leave for the entire workday. Weather and safety leave is not available to those employees who request unscheduled leave.

Employees who are on preapproved leave, whether paid or unpaid, or using other paid time off such as compensatory time or credit hours, will generally be charged for that leave or time off and will not receive weather and safety leave even if they request unscheduled leave or other paid time off.

Forecast details and timing

Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said the heaviest snow is expected in the evening hours and will taper off after midnight. Conditions will improve Monday as temperatures rise and lead to snow melt, but concerns remain about the potential for freezing come Monday night.

Forecasted total snow accumulations vary: parts of the region could see anywhere between 2 to 6 inches, while other guidance notes total accumulations between 2 and 4 inches with localized amounts around 5 inches. Snowfall amounts will be higher in the Baltimore region. Northwest winds are expected to gust between 30 and 40 mph overnight through Monday.

Advisory area and impacts

The National Weather Service has a winter weather advisory in place from 5 p. m. Sunday to 10 a. m. Monday for the District of Columbia, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park. Plan on slippery road conditions; hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute.

Local responses and reactions

OPM Director Scott Kupor wrote that the delay should provide more flexibility in the morning if the snow arrives overnight. He added, “Because the temperatures are not nearly as cold as we saw in the last storm, we don’t think there is as much of a concern around serious icing that would mandate a full shutdown. Stay warm and stay safe!” Kupor posted that message on February 22, 2026.

Schools across the D. C. metro region are also delaying their starts to let streets clear and the snow melt begin. Remote and telework employees remain expected to begin their day as usual unless they take approved leave or follow the specific guidance outlined for their category.

Jason Miller is executive editor and directs news coverage on the people, policy and programs of the federal government.

Closing: The two-hour delayed arrival, unscheduled leave and telework options, and detailed employee-category guidance take effect for Monday as the region prepares for accumulating snow and a winter weather advisory from late Sunday into Monday morning.