The White House has unveiled a "deferred resignation" program targeting federal employees, offering a strategic exit plan amid efforts to bring the workforce back to the office. This government-wide initiative invites federal employees to resign by February 6, while continuing to receive their pay and benefits through September 30. The Trump administration aims to reduce the number of federal employees while simultaneously scrapping pandemic-era work-from-home policies in favor of a full-time office return.
Emails detailing the program will be sent to millions of federal workers starting Tuesday afternoon. The initiative is voluntary, allowing employees the choice to opt into the program. The White House anticipates that up to 10% of federal employees may decide to take advantage of this offer. By doing so, these employees will continue to receive financial support until the end of the fiscal year, September 30.
The deferred resignation program is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reorganize the federal workforce. During the coronavirus pandemic, many federal workers transitioned to remote work as a safety measure. However, with this new program, the administration is signaling a decisive shift back to traditional office environments, emphasizing a complete return to pre-pandemic working conditions.
This buyout initiative serves as a strategic means for the administration to streamline operations and potentially downsize the federal workforce. As employees weigh their options, the administration stands firm on its objective to have federal employees resume office duties five days a week. The move reflects a significant policy change from the flexible work arrangements that were commonplace during the pandemic.