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White House Reports Over 20,000 Federal Workers Have Accepted Buyouts, Expects Surge Before Deadline
By
Jake Beardslee
· February 5, 2025
Federal Workforce Reshaped
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has reported that over 20,000 federal employees have accepted
buyouts
as part of a broader effort to reshape the federal workforce. Officials anticipate a sharp increase in participation before the February 6 deadline.
As President Donald Trump moves into his second term, his administration has been implementing sweeping policy changes, including executive orders on federal workforce reductions, return-to-office mandates, and immigration measures. The White House has set an ambitious goal of cutting between 5% and 10% of federal jobs—potentially affecting up to 200,000 employees.
The Trump White House / Wikimedia
Conflicting Reports on Numbers
Despite an initial report from Axios stating that approximately 20,000 workers had accepted the buyout, a White House spokesperson disputed the figure, suggesting it was higher. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not disclosed an exact number but
confirmed to Business Insider
that the "number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, and we're expecting the largest spike to come 24-48 hours before the deadline."
The Trump administration sent an email last week offering federal employees full pay and benefits through September 30 if they opted to resign by February 6. However, the plan has drawn strong opposition from Democrats and labor unions.
Second presidency of Donald Trump / Wikimedia
Democratic Opposition
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) warned federal workers against accepting the offer, stating, "If you accept that offer and resign, he'll stiff you. Do not be fooled by this guy. You were here before he was here, and you'll be here after he was here."
Jack Gruber-USA Today
Elon Musk Backs Workforce Cuts
Meanwhile, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have publicly supported the initiative. Musk has long advocated for reducing the size of the federal workforce through severance packages and early retirement incentives. OPM has updated its FAQ page, urging employees to consider careers in the private sector
or use the buyout as an opportunity to
"travel to your dream destination."
Chip Somodevilla-Pool via Imagn Images
Uncertain Future for Federal Jobs
With the deadline fast approaching, all eyes remain on how many federal workers ultimately decide to take the deal and how this will impact the government moving forward.
Kendall Hoopes / Pexels