Trump’s Buyout Plan Pressures Federal Workers To Leave Government Jobs

The Trump administration is moving forward with its plan to reduce the federal workforce, pushing employees to accept buyouts before a looming deadline. The White House has offered federal workers a severance package worth eight months of salary, encouraging them to transition into the private sector rather than continue in government employment.

Federal employees were notified about the offer through an email from the Office of Personnel Management, which explained that private sector jobs often provide better pay and career opportunities. The message emphasized that those who take the buyout will be allowed to continue receiving government pay for a limited period before their full departure.

The administration has made it clear that those who choose to stay will be expected to return to full-time, in-office work. Remote work policies implemented during the pandemic, which have remained in place under the Biden administration, will be rescinded. Many federal agencies continue to operate with barely occupied buildings, with some running at just 12% capacity. A Senate report found that only 6% of federal workers were consistently working in person, despite millions of taxpayer dollars funding these government offices.

Critics of the buyout plan argue that it disproportionately targets employees who may not align with the administration’s policies. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, has claimed the effort is designed to pressure workers who are not considered loyal to the current administration.

The federal government employs over 3 million people, with the largest concentration of workers in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. California, Texas, and Florida also have substantial numbers of federal employees, though they represent less than 1% of their states’ total workforces.

Employees who accept the buyout will have until Feb. 6 to finalize their resignation, with their government pay lasting through September.