The deadline for U.S. federal workers to decide whether to accept a buyout or stay in their jobs is Thursday. If they choose to remain, they still risk losing their jobs.
The aggressive move by President Donald Trump to shrink the size of government within a few weeks is unprecedented. The move has caused chaos in the U.S. Capital has sparked protests as well as union warnings about possible violations of multiple laws.
Sources say that as of Wednesday evening, more than 40,000 federal workers had accepted the buyout.
It is not clear how many of the federal government’s 2.3 million civilian employees will ultimately accept the offer, which promises to pay their salaries until October if they resign by Thursday.
Some are fighting this proposal in court.
Unions representing federal workers sued to block the “deferred resignation program” last week. A federal judge in Boston is to consider their request at 1 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) on Thursday.
The administration has warned those who refuse the offer that their jobs may be in danger as it moves forward with its revamp of government operations.
The buyout includes not only employees of domestic agencies such as the Department of Labor, which has traditionally riled Trump’s Republicans but also intelligence agencies such as the CIA.
Elon Musk, Trump’s billionaire advisor, is leading a government revamp. The buyout forms part of that overhaul. The result has been a purge of staff in several departments, and a significant reduction in the U.S. Agency for International Development (the main American humanitarian aid agency).
Additional cuts are expected. Sources at the Office of Personnel Management claim that officials increased their demand Wednesday for layoffs from 30% to 70% of staff.
Trump’s Justice Department lieutenants have fired prosecutors working on cases that involved Jan. 6, 2021, and demanded up to 6,000 FBI agent names who were involved.
The White House is claiming to be following through with Trump’s promise made during his campaign to reduce wasteful spending, and to slim down the bureaucracy which many conservatives view as being left-leaning.
Democrats claim the attempt is illegal because the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to spend money.
“Everyone is frustrated and stressed and the mood is terrible,” said a worker from the Department of Health and Human Services who spoke under condition of anonymity.
Republicans, who control the two chambers of Congress have cheered this effort and Democrats are unable to stop them.
All 47 Democrats in the U.S. Senate are expected Thursday to vote against confirming Trump’s pick for White House budget chief, Russell Vought, but he is still expected to win confirmation with support from the chamber’s 53 Republicans.
