The White House is anticipating a notable increase in federal resignations as the deadline for a buyout offer approaches on Thursday. This initiative is part of President Donald Trump's strategy to transition government employees back to working from their offices after an extended period of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees across various federal agencies have been given the option to accept a buyout offer until Thursday, with the administration bracing for a surge in resignations in the final two days leading up to the deadline.
A White House official revealed that the number of pending resignations is escalating rapidly, with expectations of a significant spike in departures within 24 to 48 hours before the cutoff.
Reports indicate that approximately 20,000 federal employees have already opted for the buyout, constituting about 1% of the federal workforce. However, the White House official clarified that this figure is no longer current.
The Office of Personnel Management informed nearly 2 million federal employees on Jan. 28 that they must return to their physical offices five days a week or choose to leave their positions through the buyout offer. Those who accept the offer will maintain their pay and benefits and are excused from in-person work until Sep. 30.
President Trump has expressed his belief that a substantial number of employees will not return to work, leading to a leaner and more efficient government, a goal he has pursued for decades.
It is important to note that the buyout option does not extend to military personnel, the U.S. Postal Service, or roles related to immigration enforcement and national security.
The impending deadline coincides with the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk, scrutinizing various government entities to curb overspending and alleged corruption within the government's upper echelons.
Most recently, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) faced scrutiny from Musk's department, resulting in hundreds of employees being locked out of the agency's systems and the closure of its Washington, D.C. headquarters.
Musk has criticized USAID on social media, labeling it as a 'criminal organization' and accusing it of harboring 'radical-left marxists' who are anti-American.
As the buyout deadline looms and government restructuring efforts continue, the landscape of the federal workforce is poised for significant changes in the days ahead.
