Former U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a sweeping buyout program for nearly all federal employees in an effort to downsize and reform the government.
According to an email sent by his administration on Tuesday, employees must decide by February 6 whether to participate in a “deferred resignation” program. Those who agree to leave in September would receive approximately eight months’ salary as severance.
The administration anticipates that up to 10% of federal employees—about 200,000 of the more than two million workforce—could accept the offer, potentially saving the government up to $100 billion, according to news.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined broader government reforms, including a mandate for most employees to return to in-office work five days a week. Trump has already ended Covid-era remote work policies since returning to the White House.
The buyout is open to all full-time federal employees except postal workers, military personnel, immigration officials, and certain national security staff. Employees interested in the offer were instructed to reply to the email with “resign” in the subject line. The White House described the deal as “very generous,” including salary and benefits through September 30.
However, the email also warned of future layoffs for those who stay. “We cannot fully assure you of your job security, but should your position be eliminated, you will be treated with dignity,” it read.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller told media that many federal employees lean “overwhelmingly left of center,” making it “essential” for Trump to exert control over the government.
The plan has sparked backlash, with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) warning that the “purging” of federal workers could lead to widespread disruption. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine also criticized the offer, questioning Trump’s authority to make such deals and suggesting employees might not receive the promised compensation.
Trump had pledged to shrink the government and cut federal spending during his campaign. He appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an advisory group focused on reducing regulations and workforce size, though Ramaswamy has since departed from the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
The buyout email closely resembles a message sent to Twitter (now X) employees in 2022 after Musk’s acquisition, in which workers were asked to confirm their decision to stay.
Tuesday’s announcement capped an eventful day in Washington, following Trump’s executive order pausing federal grants and assistance programs. A district judge temporarily blocked the order, leading to confusion over which services would be affected. The White House reassured that Social Security and Medicaid would not be impacted.
Additionally, Trump signed an executive order restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Titled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, the order bans federal support for gender transition treatments for individuals under 19. However, legal challenges are expected, and its implementation remains uncertain.
