Trump Administration Moves Forward With Plan To Reduce Federal Workforce

Federal employees have until Feb. 6 to decide whether to accept a buyout offered by the Trump administration as part of a push to shrink the size of the government. The plan provides full-time employees, excluding military personnel and immigration enforcement officers, with eight months of pay if they choose to resign.

The Office of Personnel Management sent an email outlining details of the buyout, emphasizing that private sector employment often offers higher salaries. Employees who accept the offer can continue receiving government paychecks for several months before officially leaving their positions.

This effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce wasteful spending and limit federal overreach. Many agencies have operated with minimal in-person staff since the pandemic, with some offices sitting nearly empty. A Senate report found that only 6% of federal employees were consistently working in their assigned offices, contributing to an average occupancy rate of 12% in government buildings across Washington, D.C.

For those who choose to stay, remote work options will be significantly reduced. The administration has made clear that employees will be expected to return to full-time in-office work, with agencies likely to undergo major restructuring.

The buyout proposal has sparked criticism from union officials who claim it is an attempt to push out employees who do not support the administration’s policies. Everett Kelley, leader of the American Federation of Government Employees, has voiced strong opposition, calling the plan a targeted effort to remove certain workers from federal employment.

The federal workforce has grown to more than 3 million employees, with nearly 20% working in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. While large states such as California, Texas, and Florida also employ thousands of federal workers, they make up less than 1% of each state’s total workforce.