The Trump administration is continuing to push forward with its agenda, most recently taking aim at federal government spending on workers. As a means to cut the budget, the administration has offered millions of federal workers a buyout if they resign.
The news of the buyout comes from a report from NBC News, which cited a senior administration official and obtained an email with information on the move.
According to the report, millions of federal workers are being given the option to take the buyout through a “deferred resignation” program, if they resign by Feb. 6.
As part of the buyout, the administration is reportedly offering those who accept pay and benefits through Sept. 30.
There are several reasons why the Trump administration is offering buyouts, but returning employees to the office is a main factor. According to a report from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), only 6% of federal employees work full-time in office, despite being five years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The senior administration official cited by NBC News also shared that the buyouts are being offered to “make sure that all federal workers are on board with the new administration’s plan to have federal employees in office and adhering to higher standards.”
The report notes that the White House is expecting up to 10% of federal employees to take the buyout.
When it comes to who will be offered the buyout, all full-time federal employees will get the offer, except for military personnel, US Postal Service workers, and roles related to immigration enforcement and national security.
During his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order putting a freeze on all federal hiring while also directing all executive branch agencies to end remote work rules.
“The 2 million employees in the federal government are overwhelmingly left of center,” Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, said Tuesday on CNN. He added that with Trump being elected, “it is essential for him to get control of [the] government.”
Trump also sought to freeze federal funding this week, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared that the “pause is focused on being good stewards of tax dollars.”
The American Federation of Government Employees criticized Trump for the buyout plans, calling it a purge of dedicated employees. The group also said the move would create “chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government.”
“Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to,” the group said.