The Department of Education is offering buyouts of up to $25,000 to certain employees who have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday to accept the offer. This offer was communicated in an email sent to the agency’s workers on Friday. Eligible employees must have been employed by the government for a continuous period of at least three years to qualify for the buyout.
The email from the department’s chief human capital officer mentioned that the buyout offer is being made “in advance of a very significant” reduction in the department’s headcount. However, the specific target reduction in headcount that the Education Department is aiming for with this offer remains unclear. A spokesperson for the department did not provide immediate comments when contacted for clarification on Monday morning.
President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to eliminate the Department of Education, making it a top goal of his administration. He has publicly stated his hope that Linda McMahon, his pick to lead the department, will “put herself out of a job” by leading the department’s reduction or elimination. Despite previous attempts to dismantle the department, these efforts have not garnered sufficient support in Congress.
Additionally, the Department of Education is a target of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, as previously reported. AFGE union officials have refrained from advising their members on whether to accept the buyout offer. They have, however, highlighted that the actual amount offered may be less than $25,000 for some employees. Furthermore, employees are being informed that the buyout amount is taxable and that if they rejoin the government within five years, they would be required to repay the gross amount.
Politico was the first to report on the buyout offer from the Department of Education, shedding light on this significant development within the agency.
