Trump administration to offer buyouts federal workers and downsize

The “deferred resignation program,” that is according to an email sent to federal employees and seen by news agencies, would allow federal employees to remain on the payroll through September 30 without having to work.

The email gives federal employees until Feb. 6 to decide if they want to take part in the program. Federal buyouts are generally capped at $25,000 (€24,000).

Trump wants to shrink government

The Trump is on a cost cutting drive and his first target is Federal employees. Trump wants to shrink government as he expects to see a “more streamlined and flexible workforce.” A very NASDAQ philosophy of balancing the books.

While the military and some agencies are likely to have increases in their staffs, the majority of agencies are likely to have reductions through reorganization and layoffs, the email said.

Earlier in the week, the US Department of Justice said it had fired several career lawyers who worked on Trump’s criminal cases.

Largest federal employee union warns of consequences

In response to the administration’s initiative, American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said the proposal “should not be viewed as voluntary.”

“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,” he added.

He also warned that purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have “vast, unintended consequences.”