White House Offers Buyouts to 2 Million Federal Workers Opting Not to Return to Office
The Post has confirmed that the White House is offering buyouts to federal workers who don’t want to return to the office, according to President Trump’s orders.
The offer, contained in an email sent on Tuesday, could significantly pare down the federal workforce as Trump ends COVID-19-era policies that let many workers do their jobs remotely. “This email is being sent to more than two million federal employees,” Katie Miller, who serves on an advisory board to the Department of Government Efficiency, wrote on X (Twitter).
How did it happen pursuate buyouts?
The offers come on the heels of Trump’s freeze on federal aid and his attempt to pause the disbursement of grant money, which was held up on Tuesday evening by a federal judge. White House aides expect between 5% and 10% of federal workers to take the deal, which is projected to save taxpayers $100 billion a year, according to Axios, which first reported on the plan. NBC News reported that the buyout offer would cover roughly eight months of pay and benefits.
Trump announcing the new measures. Photo: CNN.
“The government-wide email being sent today is to make sure that all federal workers are on board with the new administration’s plan to have federal employees in the office and adhering to higher standards,” a senior administration official said. “We’re five years past COVID and just 6% of federal employees work full-time in the office. That is unacceptable. At least one government employee was jubilant about the offer, telling The Post in a text message: “The gravy train is coming to an end for a lot of freeloaders.”
How much do workers expect from White House's new measures?
As mentioned, a senior administration official told NBC News that they expect between 5% to 10% of the federal workforce to quit, which, they estimate, could lead to around $100 billion in savings. It means that all full-time federal employees are eligible, except for members of the military, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, and other jobs excluded by agencies.
"American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government employees, and therefore deserve employees working on their behalf who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers," White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement. "If they don’t want to work in the office and contribute to making America great again, then they are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of 8 months."