International
Trump Offers Buyouts to Federal Workers in Major Government Downsizing Move
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- Trump offers federal workers an 8-month severance package to resign voluntarily.
- Employees have until February 6 to decide under the “deferred resignation program.”
- Up to 200,000 federal workers could leave as part of the government downsizing plan.
Former President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping buyout program for nearly all federal employees unwilling to return to in-person work, marking a significant step toward reducing the size of the U.S. government.
In an email sent to millions of federal workers on Tuesday, the administration outlined a “deferred resignation program,” giving employees until February 6 to decide whether to participate.
Under the plan, those who opt to leave by the deadline would receive a severance package equivalent to roughly eight months of salary.
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According to CBS News, the administration anticipates that up to 10% of the federal workforce—approximately 200,000 of the more than two million employees—may accept the offer.
Senior Trump officials have told U.S. media that the federal buyout program could save the government up to $100 billion (£80 billion).
Employees who wished to accept the offer on Tuesday were instructed to respond to the email with “resign” in the subject line. The deal includes salary and benefits until September 30.
However, certain groups—including postal workers, military personnel, immigration officials, and some national security employees—were excluded from the offer, according to the email.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government’s HR agency, also warned in its Tuesday evening message that further downsizing could impact those who choose to stay.
“We cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated, you will be treated with dignity,” the email stated.
The announcement follows Trump’s earlier directive requiring federal employees who had been working remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic to return to the office five days a week.
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Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller claimed that the government’s workforce of two million employees was “overwhelmingly left of centre” and insisted it was “essential” for Trump to “get control of government.”
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to shrink the federal government and cut spending. To further this goal, he appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an advisory body focused on reducing regulations, spending, and headcounts within federal agencies. Ramaswamy has since stepped down from the initiative, known as the “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge).
Notably, Tuesday’s email bears similarities to a message sent to Twitter (now X) employees in late 2022 after Musk’s acquisition of the platform, in which he asked employees to reply via email if they wanted to stay with the company.
The mass buyout offer capped off a chaotic day in Washington. Earlier, Trump issued a memo ordering a pause on federal grants, loans, and other forms of assistance.
However, a district judge temporarily blocked the order—initially set to take effect Tuesday afternoon—delaying its implementation until the following Monday.
The decision came amid widespread confusion over which federal programs and agencies would be affected. The White House repeatedly sought to reassure the public that Social Security payments and Medicaid access would not be disrupted.
Meanwhile, congressional Democrats expressed strong opposition, with top lawmakers writing to the White House to voice their “extreme alarm” over the funding freeze.
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Adding to the day’s developments, Trump also signed an executive order restricting gender-affirming care for minors.
Titled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, the order seeks to prohibit individuals under the age of 19 from making “life-altering” medical decisions.
“It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another,” the order states.
However, the order’s implementation remains unclear, and legal challenges are widely expected.
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