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Federal worker buyout FAQs: What to know about Trump’s plans to shrink US government

Trump offering federal workers buyouts with about 8 months' pay

Federal worker buyout FAQs: What to know about Trump’s plans to shrink US government (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – The White House on Tuesday began offering buyouts to all federal employees — one of several sweeping changes implemented by President Donald Trump in the first days of his second administration.

Who is eligible? Why are they being offered the buyouts? How much money will they receive?

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Here’s what to know about the deferred resignation offer.

What is the buyout program offered to federal employees?

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed.

Millions of employees received an email from the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources agency, that laid out plans for a “reformed federal workforce” and a deferred resignation program.

According to an email obtained by KSAT, the deferred resignation program started on Tuesday. Employees have until Feb. 6 to make a decision.

Those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary.

“If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason),” the email states.

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Who is eligible?

According to the email, deferred resignation is not available to all federal workers.

“Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency,” the email obtained by KSAT states.

What happens if eligible employees accept the deferred registration?

The email obtained by KSAT includes a “deferred resignation letter” for federal employees to begin leaving their posts.

“If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program,” it says.

The email even includes instructions on how to accept, stating: “If you wish to resign: Select ‘Reply’ to this email. You must reply from your government account.” It adds: “Type the word ‘Resign’ into the body of this email and hit ‘send.’”

What happens if eligible workers want to stay?

The email preemptively thanked federal employees who wish to stay in their posts — but said their positions aren’t guaranteed.

“If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce,” the email said. “At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

How many employees does this affect?

The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November last year, which accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nation’s entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center. The average tenure for a federal employee is nearly 12 years, according to a Pew analysis of data from OPM.

Even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shockwaves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole, triggering wide-ranging — and as yet unknowable — implications for the delivery, timeliness and effectiveness of federal services across the nation.

Untold numbers of front-line health workers in the Veterans Affairs Department, officials who process loans for homebuyers or small businesses, and contractors who help procure the next generation of military weaponry could all head for the exits at once. It could also mean losing experienced food inspectors and scientists who test the water supply — while disrupting everything from air travel and consumer product protections.

In response, American Federation of Government Employees union President Everett Kelley said it should not be viewed as voluntary buyouts, but pressuring workers not considered loyal to the new administration to vacate their jobs.

“Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,” Kelley said in a statement. “Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”

What else is required of federal employees?

The email also said the government would begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warned of future downsizing.

The email states the “reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars” including the return to office, performance, streamlined workforce and enhanced standards of conduct.

  • Return to work: “The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers,” the email states.
  • Performance culture: “The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand,” the email states.
  • More streamlined and flexible workforce: “While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees,” the email states.
  • Enhanced standards of conduct: “The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email states.

Have additional questions? The U.S. Office of Personnel Management released a memo on Tuesday that may have answers for you. You can read it below: