More Than 20,000 Federal Workers Have Taken Buyout Offer, Surge Expected Before Feb. 6 Deadline, Says Official

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Nobody knows now how many employees will ultimately accept Trumpโ€™s terms for leaving the government.

WASHINGTONโ€”More than 20,000 federal workers have accepted President Donald Trumpโ€™s buyout offer since last week, and officials expect many more before the Feb. 6 deadline, according to a knowledgeable administration official.

โ€œOn background, I can tell you that the 20,000 number isnโ€™t current. The number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, and weโ€™re expecting the largest spike to come 24 to 48 hours before the deadline,โ€ the official told The Epoch Times.

The official was responding to a report by Axios.

There are 2.3 million civilian federal workers, the vast majority of whom are in the career service, which enjoys multiple regulatory protections. Under the current system, more than 18 months on average are required to terminate such a worker, but the actual time involved can easily stretch significantly longer.

The average federal employee salary is $106,382, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, as analyzed by the Pew Research Center. The median average household income for all Americans is $75,149, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

If 10 percent of the civilian workforce accepted the buyout offer, it would cut spending by more than $24 billion. According to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data, the governmentโ€™s turnover rate is 6 percent to 8 percent in a typical year, mainly because of retirements.

Trumpโ€™s offer is part of his promised initiative to reduce the size and cost of the federal government, an effort assigned to the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory body headed by billionaire space and auto entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The buyout offer allows federal workers who accept it to receive full pay and benefits coverage for eight months, exempts them from newly issued orders to return to work at their official duty stations on a daily basis, and protects them against reduction-in-force processes that are expected to begin in the near future in many federal departments and agencies.

Officials with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest such union with 800,000 members, are encouraging civil servants to reject Trumpโ€™s offer.

Byย Mark Tapscott

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Exposed: Dem Dark Money Influencer Machine

After 2024 defeat, Democrats, launched Chorus Creator Program, paying influencers up to $8K/month to push party talking points as โ€œindependent media.โ€

Cherished Unalienable Rights

In the USA, the โ€œrightsโ€ of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are written endowments, supposedly, held sacred, and secured and protected by govt.

ANOTHER Private Bill Gates-Trump Meeting in the White House โ€” Why?

The notion that Bill Gates concerns himself with โ€œprotecting Americansโ€™ healthโ€ is so delusional that anyone buying that is too far gone to be saved.

Hereโ€™s What the USโ€™ Security Guarantees For Ukraine Might Look Like

Western security guarantees for Ukraine are one of the main issues delaying a political resolution to the conflict. Russia launched its SMO primarily in response to NATO-emanating threats from Ukraine.

The Cost of Anger

I will not write much here. There are no words I can say. I only wish to remember those forgotten casualties, the unseen cost of the current antagonism in America.

Chicago Mayor Signs Order to Block Possible Troop Deployment

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signs executive order for โ€œimmediate, drastic actionโ€ amid concerns over possible Trump admin military deployment.

Lawsuit Blames ChatGPT for California Teenโ€™s Death

The parents of a California teenager who died by suicide have sued ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, alleging the AI chatbot played a direct role in their sonโ€™s death.

Appeals Court Rules Most of Trumpโ€™s Tariffs Are Illegal

The judges let the import taxes stay in place...

New Trial Ordered for 3 Memphis Ex-officers in Connection With Death of Tyre Nichols

A judge ordered a new trial Thursday for three former Memphis police officers who were convicted of federal charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols

Appeals Court Rules Most of Trumpโ€™s Tariffs Are Illegal

The judges let the import taxes stay in place...

Trump Signs Executive Order โ€˜Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Againโ€™

Trump signed an EO to โ€œ[Make] Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,โ€ prioritizing classical and traditional styles in new federal govt. buildings.

Trump Admin Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid Funding

President Donald Trump on Aug. 28 moved to cancel $4.9 billion in appropriated funds for foreign aid spending.

Trump Admin Removes Secret Service Protection for Former VP Harris, Official Says

VP Harris' Secret Service protection was revoked. Former vice presidents generally get federal protection for six months after they leave office.
spot_img

Related Articles