The defense secretary later clarified that he wouldn't "defy" a ruling from the Supreme Court.
VA would be one of only a few federal departments to see a funding increase under the president's $1.7 trillion budget plan.
The move to end telework at VA follows instructions from the White House to return most federal employees to their pre-pandemic duty stations.
White House officials said VA financial assistance programs do not violate rules banning diversity and inclusion efforts.
