Trump Offers 8-Month Buyouts to Federal Workers in Effort to Shrink Government

What Happened?

The Trump administration has announced eight-month buyout offers to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week.

In a memo sent out Tuesday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management presented the deferred resignation offer.

'This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6,' the memo read. 'If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025.'

It marks an unprecedented move as President Donald Trump and his administration aim to shrink the U.S. government and swiftly address federal spending.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) member Katie Miller took to social media to state that the email had been sent to more than two million federal employees.

The memo detailed four key pillars surrounding a 'reformed federal workforce' that's being built as part of the current administration's vision.

These areas involved performance culture, a more streamlined and flexible workforce, enhanced standards of conduct, and a return to office model five days a week full-time for most workers.

So far, DOGE is claiming it's saving the federal government nearly $1 billion per day by taking these actions that are consistent with President Trump's executive orders to downsize the government.

Why it Matters

Federal workers have been hit with significant changes following a previously released memo that ordered all federal employees in diversity, equity, and inclusion roles to be placed on paid leave.

President Trump issued an executive order that claimed 'the former Biden administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs' under DEI titles into all aspects of the federal government.

A judge temporarily blocked Trump's move to pause federal loans and grants, set to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.

Four nonprofit groups challenged the sweeping measures imposed by the Office of Management and Budget and claimed they were illegal.

How it Affects You

President Trump and DOGE have taken heavily questioned approaches to addressing the nation's debt deficit.

More legal challenges may eventually lead to the Supreme Court issuing opinions on the president's authorization abilities.

It is also key to see how moral factors may play out to the degree these measures can be carried out abruptly.

The main focus may be centered around whether Congress can require a president to spend money on things he deems as wasteful.