CV NEWS FEED // A Trump administration official revealed Tuesday that about 20,000 federal employees who work remotely have so far accepted President Donald Trump’s “buyout” offer, choosing to resign their positions rather than return to in-person work. Many more are expected to take the deal before Thursday’s deadline.
The buyout offer, sent out in an email to federal employees last week, was “an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed,” the Associated Press reported. Those who refuse the deal are expected to give up remote work and return to their offices. Those who accept the offer will receive about eight months’ pay in exchange for resigning their positions by February 6.
CatholicVote reported in December that only about 6% of federal employees work in-person daily: “In a shocking report, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, the Senate Chair of the new caucus for the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), expressed frustration with the state of affairs in the capital and claimed that Americans are getting ‘ripped off.’”
“The nation’s capital is a ghost town, with government buildings averaging an occupancy rate of 12[%],” Ernst reported. “If federal employees can’t be found at their desks, exactly where are they?”
The White House projects that the buyouts could save the government up to $100 billion annually.
The email sent to employees by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last week stated: “[T]he President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit.”
“The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work,” it continued.
The White House has estimated that 5%-10% of all federal workers will accept buyouts.
The largest spike in sign-ups is expected to come just before Thursday’s deadline.
According to The Hill, “Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested Wednesday that legal precedent could be on Trump’s side, saying that ‘the courts have shown a lot of leeway for the executive on hiring and firing.’”
The OPM assured employees opting to take advantage of the buyouts that they would maintain “current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until [their] final resignation date.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stated on X that federal employees can now go on vacation, “or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”
Answering the most common question about the Deferred Resignation offer.
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 29, 2025
Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits. https://t.co/Dsgt81oPPhhttps://t.co/LReG2GQCmz pic.twitter.com/0eRPUHP8hI