
The Trump administration is pushing ahead with its plan to downsize the federal workforce, offering government employees an incentive to leave before stricter workplace policies take effect. Workers have until Feb. 6 to accept a buyout deal that provides eight months of salary in exchange for resignation.
The Office of Personnel Management recently sent an email reminding federal employees of the offer. The notice explained that private sector jobs often pay more than government positions, encouraging workers to transition out of federal employment. Those who accept the buyout will continue receiving pay for several months before their official departure.
This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to reduce unnecessary government spending and rein in a bloated bureaucracy. Many federal employees have remained in remote positions long after the pandemic, with some agencies still operating at minimal in-person capacity. A Senate investigation found that only 6% of federal workers were regularly present in their offices, leaving federal buildings in Washington, D.C., at an average occupancy rate of just 12%.
Employees who reject the buyout will be expected to return to in-office work. The administration has made it clear that agencies will face significant restructuring, with downsizing expected to affect a range of federal departments.
The plan has drawn criticism from union leaders, including Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees, who argues that the policy unfairly targets employees who may not align with the administration’s priorities. However, supporters of the buyout view it as an essential step toward limiting government overreach and cutting down on inefficiency.
The federal government currently employs more than 3 million people, with the largest concentration in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding areas. Other states, including California, Texas, and Florida, also have substantial numbers of federal workers, though they make up a small fraction of each state’s overall workforce.