Today marks the final opportunity for federal employees to accept the Trump administration’s buyout offer, which has already seen more than 40,000 workers choose to resign in exchange for extended pay and benefits. The buyouts were made available to over two million federal employees, excluding those in national security, military, and postal service roles. The administration framed the initiative as a means to streamline the government and reduce unnecessary positions.
The resignations span multiple agencies, with departments like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seeing some of the highest numbers of employees choosing to leave. Certain agencies have frozen hiring while assessing the long-term impact of the workforce reductions.
Public sector unions have attempted to halt the buyout program through legal action, claiming the administration does not have the authority to authorize extended severance pay beyond March without congressional approval. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has raised concerns that funding for the payments may not be secure, warning employees that future compensation could depend on additional budget approvals.
Critics argue that public unions are resisting the buyouts because they fear losing dues-paying members rather than focusing on worker protections. Unlike private unions, which negotiate with business owners, public unions use collective bargaining to demand higher salaries and benefits directly from taxpayers. Some argue that federal employees who are dissatisfied with government salaries should seek work in the private sector rather than relying on union-backed demands for more funding.
Alongside the buyouts, the administration has introduced hiring freezes and is reviewing multiple government programs for potential reductions. The Department of Government Efficiency, under Elon Musk’s leadership, has been evaluating agency structures and determining where further cuts could be made.
As the deadline passes, federal agencies are expected to finalize processing for those who accepted the buyout offers. The final numbers of employees leaving are still being reviewed, while court challenges from public unions continue.
