White House anticipates surge in federal resignations ahead of buyout deadline
The White House is expecting a spike in federal resignations due to a buyout offer as part of a plan to return employees to office work after remote work during the pandemic.
The White House is preparing for a significant increase in federal employee resignations as the deadline for a government buyout offer approaches on Thursday. This initiative is part of President Donald Trump's strategy to mandate that federal employees return to their offices after extended remote work periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a White House official, there is an expectation of a surge in resignations in the 24 to 48 hours leading up to the deadline. Currently, approximately 20,000 federal employees have accepted the buyout offer, which represents about 1% of the overall federal workforce. However, the White House clarified that this figure may not be up to date.
On January 28, the Office of Personnel Management informed nearly 2 million federal employees that they must return to their offices five days a week or opt to resign through the buyout program. Employees who take the buyout will continue to receive their regular pay and benefits, avoiding in-person work until September 30.
Trump has asserted that a considerable number of employees will not choose to return, resulting in a more efficient government structure, a goal he stated has been sought for decades. Notably, the buyout option does not extend to military personnel or positions within the U.S. Postal Service, immigration enforcement, or national security.
Additionally, the buyout deadline coincides with efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency, oversight by tech billionaire Elon Musk, to reform government agencies and address concerns of overspending and corruption. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently under scrutiny, with reports of staff being locked out of their systems and a closure of their headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Musk has publicly criticized USAID, labeling it a "criminal organization" and expressing his discontent with its operational practices.
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