WASHINGTON – In an unprecedented move to rapidly reduce the size of the U.S. government, the Trump administration has announced that it will offer buyouts to all federal employees who choose to leave their jobs by next week. The Office of Personnel Management sent a memo to employees outlining the buyout offer, which includes approximately eight months of salary for those who voluntarily resign by February 6.
With over 3 million federal employees, the potential impact of mass resignations on the economy and society is difficult to predict. This move could disrupt essential services such as health care, loan processing, and military procurement. The American Federation of Government Employees union has criticized the buyouts, claiming they are a means to pressure workers not considered loyal to the current administration to leave their jobs.
In addition to the buyouts, the memo outlines several directives for the federal workforce, including a return to full-time in-person office work for most employees. The Trump administration emphasizes a focus on excellence and efficiency, with potential downsizing of federal agencies in the future. Employees are being told to uphold higher standards of suitability and conduct, with consequences for unlawful behavior or misconduct.
The plan also includes measures to replace the Schedule F order implemented by Trump in his first term, which sought to reclassify federal employees as political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded this order, and the new guidance aims to make it harder to dismiss federal employees. The move is seen as a safeguard against future efforts to cut government workforces and shift to more conservative staffing solutions.
The implications of these changes on federal services, employees, and the broader economy remain uncertain, and the decision has sparked concerns about the stability and functioning of the federal government as a whole.
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