Approximately 75,000 US federal employees accepted the Trump administration’s deferred buyout program, according to the US Office of Personnel Management. This buyout is one of several strategies the former president is using to reduce the 2.3 million-person federal workforce, which he has criticized as inefficient and biased.
He has also directed government agencies to plan for significant job reductions, and some agencies have already started laying off newer employees. Sources indicate that officials have been instructed to prepare for potential staff cuts of up to 70% at certain agencies.
Unions advised their members not to participate in the buyout and expressed concerns about the administration’s commitment to honoring the agreement.
The program guarantees employees their regular salaries and benefits until October without any work requirement, but this guarantee may be uncertain.
Current spending legislation expires on March 14, and future funding for these salaries is not guaranteed. The former president appointed Elon Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, which is reviewing financial and personnel records to identify $1 trillion in budget cuts.
The total federal budget was $6.75 trillion last year, and civilian worker salaries comprise less than 5% of this amount.
