Trump Offers Federal Buyout Packages to Reduce Workforce
President Donald Trump has launched a large-scale buyout program for federal workers, offering severance packages to those unwilling to return to in-office work. In an email sent Tuesday, employees were given until February 6 to opt into a “deferred resignation program,” which would provide them with around eight months of salary upon departure.
The administration expects about 10% of the federal workforce—approximately 200,000 of over two million employees—to accept the offer. The buyouts could reportedly save the government up to $100 billion, according to CBS News. However, certain employees, including postal workers, military personnel, and immigration officials, were excluded from the deal.
Trump’s Office of Personnel Management warned that further workforce reductions could follow. “We cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position,” the email stated, indicating potential downsizing in the near future. The move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to cut government spending and reduce bureaucracy.
The buyout offer follows Trump’s directive requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller justified the move, stating that the government workforce was “overwhelmingly left of center” and that it was “essential” to reassert control over federal agencies.
Meanwhile, Trump also signed an executive order restricting gender-affirming care for minors under 19, titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” The order bans federal funding for medical transitions, though its implementation remains unclear and is expected to face legal challenges.
Source: skynews