
President Donald Trump has initiated a major effort to reduce the size of the US government by offering buyout packages to nearly all federal employees who do not wish to return to in-office work.
In an email sent to millions of federal employees on Tuesday, the Trump administration announced a “deferred resignation program.” Workers were given until February 6th to decide if they would accept the offer to leave their positions, receiving approximately eight months of salary as a severance package.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, the Trump administration anticipates that up to 10% of the federal workforce, around 200,000 out of more than two million employees, will accept the offer. Senior officials have stated to US media that the buyouts could potentially save the government as much as $100 billion (£80 billion).
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How Employees Can Get The Offer
Employees interested in accepting the offer were instructed to reply to the email with the word “resign” in the subject line. The severance package includes both pay and benefits for workers until September 30th.
Certain categories of employees, including postal workers, members of the military, immigration officials, and some national security workers, were not included in the buyout offer.
The email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government’s HR agency, also warned of potential future downsizing that could affect those who choose to remain in their positions. “We cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated, you will be treated with dignity,” the email stated.
This mass buyout offer follows Trump’s previous announcement requiring federal employees who have been working remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic to return to the office five days a week.
Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, stated that the government’s two million workers are “overwhelmingly left of center,” and that it is “essential” for Trump to “get control of government.”
Trump made repeated promises during his campaign to cut the size of the government and reduce federal spending. He appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an advisory body focused on cutting regulations, spending, and headcount within the federal government. (Ramaswamy has since departed from this group.)
Similar Case On Twitter (X)
The mass buyout offer is similar to one that was sent to Twitter (now X) employees in late 2022 after Musk acquired the social media platform. Employees were asked to respond via email if they wanted to stay with the company.
The mass buyout offer came at the end of a day marked by confusion in Washington, following a memo from Trump that paused federal grants, loans, and other assistance. A district judge suspended the order, initially set to take effect on Tuesday afternoon, until next Monday. In the hours leading up to the judge’s decision, there was widespread confusion about which federal programs and organizations would be impacted. The White House repeatedly sought to reassure the public that Social Security payments and Medicaid access would not be disrupted.
Leading Democrats expressed “extreme alarm” in a letter to the White House about the plan to pause funding.
Also on Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at restricting gender care for young people. The order, titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” says it will prevent those under 19 from making “life-altering” choices. The order states that it is U.S. policy that it will not fund, sponsor, or support the “transition” of a child from one sex to another. The implementation of the order is unclear and it is expected to face legal challenges.
Source: bbc