CIA Offers Buyouts to Entire Workforce in National Security Restructuring
The CIA has offered buyouts to its entire workforce, allowing employees to quit with eight months of pay as part of national security reforms under President Trump, amid ongoing layoffs.
The Central Intelligence Agency on Tuesday became the first major national security agency to offer so-called buyouts to its entire workforce, part of President Donald Trump's effort to shrink the federal government.
The buyout offer allows federal employees to quit their jobs and receive roughly eight months of pay and benefits. Previously, such offers were not available to most national security roles due to their critical function for the nation's security.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made the decision to include the agency in this initiative, with a spokesperson stating it aligns with the Administration’s national security priorities and is part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the CIA.
However, it remains unclear whether all employees will be eligible for this offer. Some specific occupations may face restrictions, indicating the effort is less extensive than in other civil service agencies. Ratcliffe also seeks to maintain flexibility regarding the timing of departures in vital areas.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) previously indicated that not all positions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) would be eligible for participation in the program, even though some may qualify.
The decision to include the CIA appears to have been made recently, with employees previously being informed about uncertainty regarding their eligibility.
Trump and his allies have previously suggested that intelligence officers at the CIA are part of a "deep state" attempting to undermine his administration, with some critics labeling the buyout program as a purge, which officials have denied.
Ratcliffe has emphasized the importance of reinvesting in the CIA’s covert operations and intelligence-gathering capabilities, stating, “If this sounds like what you signed up for, buckle up and get ready to make a difference.”
The buyout initiative has sparked controversy, with unions advising members against accepting it. Widespread layoffs referred to as "Reductions in Force" are planned among the federal workforce, with employees not taking the buyout at risk of losing their jobs.
The buyout package allows voluntary departure with payment through September 30, but it remains uncertain if these same conditions apply to the CIA's offer.
