The Trump administration is offering millions of federal workers the option to accept buyouts through a government-wide "deferred resignation" program.
  • The Trump administration is offering millions of federal workers the option to accept buyouts through a government-wide “deferred resignation” program.
  • The offers come as President Donald Trump’s administration pushes federal employees to return to the office five days per week.
  • The White House expects up to 10% of federal employees to take the buyout, an official told NBC News.

The Trump administration is offering millions of federal workers the option to accept buyouts through a government-wide “deferred resignation” program if they resign by Feb. 6.

Those who accept the offer will receive pay and benefits through Sept. 30, according to a draft email obtained Tuesday by NBC News.

The sweeping 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,” a senior administration official told NBC on condition of anonymity.

“We’re five years past COVID and just 6 percent of federal employees work full-time in office. That is unacceptable,” the official said, citing a report from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who co-chairs the congressional DOGE caucus.

The White House expects up to 10% of federal employees to take the buyout, the official said.

The emails will be sent starting Tuesday afternoon, NBC reported.

Buyouts are being offered to all full-time federal employees except military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, roles related to immigration enforcement and national security, and “any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency,” the emails will say, according to NBC.

  • Arghblarg@lemmy.ca
    62·
    2 days ago

    Whoa.

    A company I worked for did this years ago… said they expected 10, maaaaybe 20% to take it. 54% did and they panicked, losing most of their best people.

    This is gonna be a clusterf*ck of epic proportions.

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
      61·
      2 days ago

      They want the clusterfuck. Remember, the whole goal is to break the government and install Trump as king.

      • jrs100000@lemmy.worldEnglish
        15·
        2 days ago

        Its just a half assed plan. His leverage all comes from being head of the executive branch of the richest and post powerful country on Earth. Making that institution dysfunctional and unpopular only weakens his position.

        • pwnicholson@lemmy.world
          9·
          2 days ago

          But 1) I sincerely don’t think he sees it that way and 2) it doesn’t weaken Putin’s position. I don’t honestly believe Trump is a direct asset, but I 100% believe Putin has people closer enough to pull strings and plant ideas with a man who is very clearly open to any suggestions if they are pitched with a populist and/or 1%er bent.

      • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
        6·
        2 days ago

        Trump thinks that’s the plan. In reality he’s executing Russia/China’s “Weaken the US enough” plan.

    • nalinna@lemmy.world
      6·
      2 days ago

      Stay and risk having to work for a leadership committing atrocities. Leave and risk there only being loyalists working for the them, further enabling the atrocities.

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      This isn’t a buyout though. With a buyout you get a lump sum of money and can go work somewhere else. This is just letting them work from home. And without any guarantees that you won’t be let go anyway for a different reason.

      • Tower@lemm.ee
        2·
        2 days ago

        It’s a buyout.

        White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC in a statement that if federal workers “don’t want to work in the office and contribute to making America great again, then they are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of 8 months.”

        To accept the buyout, federal employees simply have to reply to the email with the word “Resign,” the emails reportedly instruct.

        • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          11·
          2 days ago

          Using the word “buyout” does not make it a buyout. Read the details, they’re not exempt from work, they simply won’t be fired because their supervisor doesn’t have work for them to do.