DROP IN THE BUCKET: 20,000 Federal Employees TAKE President Trump’s “Buyout-To-Resign” Program

There are a record 23,470,000 government workers. Harder! Faster!

NEW Approximately 20,000 federal workers have accepted the Trump admin’s buyout offer. pic.twitter.com/n7fybvfqjQ

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 4, 2025

Related: TRUMP Admin Offers 2 Million Federal Employees a Buyout to Resign, “Fork In the Road”

20,000 Federal Workers Accept Trump’s Buyout Offer

In a significant development, approximately 20,000 federal employees have opted for President Trump’s “buyout-to-resign” program, according to a recent report by Axios. This mass resignation initiative has garnered attention as it reflects a pivotal moment in government employment dynamics amid ongoing political discussions. The buyout program offers federal workers a financial incentive to voluntarily resign, allowing the administration to reshape and streamline the workforce.

Grok:

According to recent reports, approximately 20,000 federal workers have accepted a buyout offer from President Trump’s administration. This initiative, described as a “deferred resignation” or “buyout-to-resign” program, aims to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce. Here’s a breakdown of the context and implications:

• Scope and Terms: The offer includes compensation equivalent to about eight months of salary for federal employees who choose to resign by February 6, 2025. This compensation would continue until September 30, 2025, regardless of the employee’s daily workload or the requirement to return to office work.
• Eligibility: The buyout is available to most full-time federal employees, with exceptions for military personnel, U.S. Postal Service employees, and those in roles related to immigration enforcement and national security.
• Reactions: There’s been a mix of reactions among federal workers. Some view it as an opportunity to leave government service with a financial cushion, while others see it as pressure to resign, potentially causing chaos in government operations. Federal workers’ unions and critics have questioned the legality and the long-term implications of this offer, suggesting that it might not guarantee the promised payments without legislative backing.
• Political Context: This move aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda to reduce government size and replace career civil servants with political appointees, aiming for what has been described as an overhaul of the federal workforce. Critics argue it’s a purge of those not aligned with the new administration’s political stance.
• Public and Media Sentiment: Posts on X (formerly Twitter) indicate varied opinions, from those celebrating the reduction in government size to others lamenting the potential loss of experienced federal workers. While some see this as a positive step towards efficiency, others worry about the impact on government functionality and the loss of institutional knowledge.
• Numbers: With about 2.3 million federal employees, this buyout represents roughly 1% of the federal workforce. Although it’s a significant number, it falls short of the administration’s more aggressive targets of reducing the workforce by 5% to 10%.