The administration of new US President Donald Trump has offered civilian federal workers several months’ severance pay if they quit their jobs on their own. This was reported by Reuters, AP and AFP overnight today, citing an email sent out to employees. According to the agencies, this is part of plans to drastically downsize federal agencies.
Instructions
Those who voluntarily leave their jobs will receive money equivalent to about eight months’ salary, according to the email, the AP reports. However, as a condition, workers must make their decision by Feb. 6, next week. According to Reuters, the offer applies to nearly all civilian federal workers except those whose jobs are related to immigration, national security and the Postal Service. The federal government employs more than three million people, the AP reports. About 2.3 million civilian employees work in the federal government, excluding the Postal Service, according to Reuters.
The unprecedented offer, according to Reuters, instructed employees to reply to an email from their work account and write “I’m leaving” in the reply if they were interested. The email goes on to say that the new administration expects a “more efficient and flexible workforce.” While the military and some agencies are likely to increase their staffing levels , most offices will likely be reduced through restructuring and layoffs, the email continued, warning that federal employees cannot be guaranteed their jobs.
Shaking up the economy
If even a fraction of the workforce accepts the offer, it could send shockwaves through the economy and cause problems throughout society as it could affect the delivery of federal services across the country, according to the AP, which said the government is roughly the 15th largest employer in the country.
AFP noted that the email is reminiscent of a similar message given to employees of the current Network X (once Twitter) when the platform was taken over in 2022 by billionaire Elon Musk, who is a close ally of President-elect Trump, who returned to the White House on January 20. Musk now heads the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The aforementioned email years ago asked workers at the current Network X if they wanted to stay with the company.
Source: ČTK
