Trump’s ‘buyout’ falls short as 75,000 federal workers took deal
Federal workforce grew 6.3% under Biden, fueled by pandemic spending programs
About 75,000 federal employees signed up for a voluntary resignation program inspired by President Donald Trump’s billionaire efficiency czar — falling short of the numbers the White House hoped for and increasing the likelihood of deeper mass firings.
That total, confirmed by a source familiar with the data, makes up about 3% of the 2.4 million civilian federal workforce. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously set the goal at 5 per cent to 10 per cent.
The deferred resignation plan, which allows workers to leave work in February but stay on the federal payroll through the end of September, closed Wednesday night shortly after a federal judge in Boston lifted his order freezing the program.
The Trump administration had repeatedly warned workers that the so-called “buyout” offer could be their best chance. Trump has already told federal agencies to prepare for job cuts.
The federal workforce grew 6.3% under former President Joe Biden, fueled by pandemic spending programs. A 3% cut to the federal workforce would only bring the number down to 2023 levels.
In an executive order signed Tuesday as Tesla CEO Elon Musk stood alongside him, Trump ordered agency heads to “promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force.” Exceptions will be made for public safety, immigration enforcement and law enforcement.
Musk has been the driving force behind the effort to reduce the size of government through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
The resignation program was known as “Fork in the Road,” echoing a similar offer Musk made to employees at Twitter shortly after buying the social media company, which he has since renamed X.
Indeed, even the closeout of the program showed Musk’s influence. OPM sent an email to federal employees Wednesday night saying any resignations received after 7:20 p.m. Washington time would not be accepted.
On the West Coast, that time was 4:20 p.m. — reflecting a number Musk frequently uses in a nod to marijuana culture.
