The White House expects up to 10% of federal employees to quit in a buyout program meant to end work-from-home practices, senior administration officials told CBS News.
A government-wide email President Trump’s aides planned to send Tuesday will say employees have about a week to decide whether to participate in a “deferred resignation program.” It was to begin Tuesday for all federal employees and end Feb. 6.
“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 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason),” the email states.
Those who do not wish to work in the office “are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of 8 months,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Only about 6% of federal employees work full-time in office, administration officials said.
The voluntary program won’t be available to personnel in the military, the U.S. Postal Service, immigration enforcement and national security or any positions specifically excluded by their agency, the email says.
Those who take the buyout would be exempt from any “return to office” requirements but would get their current pay and existing benefits until their final resignation date.
Employees must agree to a “smooth transition” during their remaining time in government, the emails says.
Jennifer Jacobs
Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News.
