Thursday (February 6th) was the deadline for millions of American government workers to decide whether to accept buyout offers or continue working for the federal government. Even if they choose to stay, they still run the risk of being laid off. Officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) stated in a phone conference with agency officials on Wednesday that over 40,000 federal employees have accepted resignation offers.
President Donald Trump has been making significant cuts to the size of the government in the weeks following his inauguration. A source from the Office of Management and Budget said that on Wednesday, officials raised the layoff requirement from 30% to 70% for all employees. The goal has not been reached yet.
The White House projected that 5% to 10% of federal employees would accept the offer, resulting in annual savings of approximately $100 billion. However, they did not provide information on the method of estimation or translate the percentage range into specific anticipated resignations.
There are around 2 million Americans employed in civilian federal government positions, but some positions are not covered by the agreement. It remains unclear how many of these over 2 million federal civilian employees will ultimately accept the offer. The program promises that if they resign before Thursday, the government will continue to pay their wages until October.
The deadline for submitting resignations under the Deferred Resignation Program was Thursday at 11:59 pm. OPM instructed employees to send resignation emails directly to OPM rather than to their respective agencies.
Employees who do not accept the offer were warned that their positions may be at risk as the government proceeds with comprehensive reforms to its operations.
OPM indicated that employees who choose to stay may become targets for future layoffs. During the Wednesday OPM meeting, officials discussed submitting lists of employees with less than a year of probationary period or more than two years of Excepted Service, with high proportions coming from agencies like the Peace Corps and TSA. Some federal workers are creating “virtual go bags” with their employment records as they fear not being able to access them in the future.
The layoffs affect all federal agencies, including the Department of Labor, CIA, and the U.S. Agency for International Development among others.
The Justice Department has already dismissed prosecutors handling the “January 6th incident” and has requested the FBI to provide the names of up to 6,000 agents involved.
The Trump administration is reducing the government workforce through executive actions and agency withdrawals. Starting last Saturday morning, almost all USAID employees were placed on paid administrative leave. Last week, dozens of Education Department employees were assigned administrative leave. Employees working in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility fields have also been gradually laid off.
These layoffs are part of federal government reform led by Trump advisor Elon Musk. The White House states that they are fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to cut wasteful spending and streamline bureaucratic agencies.
Many conservatives and Republican lawmakers controlling both houses of Congress welcome and support the streamlining of agencies, believing that bureaucratic entities are too left-leaning and slow to respond to the President’s agenda.
OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover commented, “This is a rare opportunity that has undergone thorough review and careful design to assist employees through the restructuring period.”
A project manager decided to accept the voluntary resignation offer because they anticipate layoffs within their agency and do not want to be dismissed during the cuts. They believe leaving sooner rather than later would allow them more time to seek new employment.
Some federal employees opt to stay because communication with the new administration solidifies their mission to serve the American public during turbulent times, reigniting a sense of pride in their work. Others are concerned that those with potential to find higher-paying jobs elsewhere will leave their positions, resulting in a talent drain within federal agencies.
An anonymous employee from the Department of Health and Human Services stated, “Everyone is feeling stressed and discouraged, the atmosphere is terrible.”
Randy Erwin, President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, expressed concerns about the remaining employees managing tasks that were already challenging due to the departure of the majority of their colleagues.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, representing tens of thousands of federal employees, suggested that employees “continue to serve the American people and do what you are doing.”
A union representing federal employees filed a lawsuit last week seeking to block the government’s Deferred Resignation Program. A federal judge in Boston is scheduled to hear their request on Thursday afternoon (Eastern Time).
(Report based on Reuters and The Wall Street Journal)