A surge in federal employee resignations is anticipated in the coming days as the deadline approaches for a buyout offer linked to President Trump's push for a return to in-person work. The offer, extended to nearly all federal employees, is part of Trump's initiative to reverse the trend of remote work adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government workers have until Thursday to accept the buyout, and the administration predicts a significant wave of resignations in the 48 hours leading up to the deadline.
The buyout allows employees to retain their current salary and benefits while remaining exempt from office attendance until September 30th. While an earlier report suggested approximately 20,000 employees had accepted the offer, a White House official clarified that this figure is outdated. President Trump previously expressed his belief that this initiative would lead to a smaller, more efficient government.
The Office of Personnel Management formally notified federal employees of the return-to-office mandate on January 28th, presenting the buyout as an alternative for those unwilling to comply with the five-day in-office work week. Positions excluded from this initiative include military personnel, postal service workers, and those involved in immigration enforcement and national security. The White House had previously projected a resignation rate of 5% to 10% of the federal workforce.
This development coincides with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, undertaking a comprehensive review of government agencies and departments to identify areas for cost reduction and address potential corruption. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the latest agency to be scrutinized by DOGE, with reports of employees being locked out of computer systems and the agency's headquarters temporarily closed. Musk has publicly criticized USAID on social media, labeling it a "criminal organization" and a "viper's nest of radical-left marxists."
