NATURAL NEWS

Trump offers federal workers buyouts to streamline government, save taxpayers billions

By isabelle // 2025-01-29

• The Trump administration offers buyouts to federal employees unwilling to return to in-person work, providing eight months of salary and benefits if they resign by February 6.
• The initiative excludes military, Postal Service, and national security roles, aiming to save taxpayers up to $100 billion annually.
• Only 6% of federal workers currently work full-time in person, prompting the administration to push for higher standards and in-office presence.
• The program is part of a broader efficiency agenda, including reclassifying workers as at-will employees and eliminating DEI programs.

In a bid to streamline the federal workforce and save taxpayers billions, the Trump administration on Tuesday offered buyouts to all federal employees who are unwilling to return to in-person work. The unprecedented initiative, outlined in a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), gives workers until February 6 to resign in exchange for eight months of salary and benefits. The offer, which excludes military personnel, Postal Service employees, and certain national security roles, is part of President Trump’s broader push to reduce government bloat and restore accountability. The memo, titled “A Fork in the Road,” was sent to millions of federal employees via email and instructed them to reply with the word “Resign” if they wished to accept the offer. The administration estimates that 5% to 10% of the federal workforce—potentially hundreds of thousands of employees—could take the deal, saving taxpayers up to $100 billion annually.

A push for in-person work and higher standards

The buyout offer comes as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to bring federal employees back to the office. According to a senior administration official, only 6% of federal workers are currently working full-time in person, a figure the White House deems “unacceptable” five years after the COVID-19 pandemic. “The government-wide email being sent today is 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 official told Axios. The memo also warns of future downsizing and emphasizes that employees who remain must meet “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct.” It states that the federal workforce should be “reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and strive for excellence in their daily work.” While the offer applies to most full-time federal employees, exceptions include military personnel, Postal Service workers, and those in immigration enforcement or national security roles. The administration argues that the buyouts provide an off-ramp for employees who prefer remote work, but critics warn that the move could drive away experienced talent. Federal employee unions have also pushed back, calling the buyouts a scare tactic. “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,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

A broader efficiency agenda

The buyout program is part of President Trump’s larger government efficiency initiatives, which include reclassifying thousands of federal workers as at-will employees, making it easier to fire them. The administration has also targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, ordering agencies to eliminate such offices and positions within 60 days. The White House maintains that these measures are necessary to reduce waste and improve accountability. “We will reduce a lot of government headcount, but we’re going to give very long severances,” Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, said at a rally last year. The Trump administration’s buyout offer marks a significant step in its efforts to reshape the federal workforce. This initiative could save taxpayers billions and streamline government operations dramatically. As the February 6 deadline approaches, the administration’s push for efficiency and accountability will undoubtedly remain a contentious issue, and it will be interesting to see just how many workers take the administration up on this offer and how much money it ends up saving taxpayers. Sources for this article include: Axios.com ZeroHedge.com APNews.com

taxes DOGE government efficiency federal workforce