White House offers incentives to federal employees to resign, warns of downsizing
By David Shepardson and Jarrett Renshaw
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration said Tuesday it is offering incentives for nearly all civilian federal workers to resign and warned of plans to shrink the size of the government.
The “deferred resignation program” would allow federal employees to remain on the payroll through Sept. 30 but not have to work, according to an email sent to federal employees and seen by Reuters. Federal buyouts are generally capped at $25,000. The email gives federal employees until Feb. 6 to decide whether to take part.
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The email also said the administration expects to see a “more streamlined and flexible workforce”. While the military and some agencies are likely to increase the size of their staff, the majority of agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings and layoffs, the email said.
The White House did not immediately comment.
American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said the proposal “should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
