Federal government employees have until midnight to decide whether to accept President Donald J. Trump’s offer of a buyout to voluntarily resign in exchange for eight months of pay and benefits. As of Thursday morning, approximately 40,000 government workers, amounting to roughly two percent of the federal civilian workforce, have accepted the buyout offer. Additionally, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officials say deferred retirement applications have increased and may rise further by the day’s end as employees finalize decisions.
Federal personnel were advised to submit resignations by emailing the word “resign” to their government accounts. OPM communicated to employees that while some agencies and military branches might experience workforce increases, most federal bodies are likely to downsize. This includes plans for restructuring, realignment, and potential reductions in force.
OPM is also suggesting it may initiate furloughs and a shift to at-will employment status for many workers. In addition, the federal government’s personnel office is also warning federal employees of possible changes in office locations due to consolidation and divestitures.
Despite these incentives, federal worker unions continue to advise members against accepting the offer. The unions have initiated a legal challenge to block the program, with a court hearing set for Thursday afternoon.
The Trump White House has projected that five to ten percent of the federal workforce might resign, potentially saving taxpayers nearly $100 billion.