A spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management confirmed late Wednesday that approximately 75,000 federal employees have accepted President Donald Trump’s deferred buyout program.
This initiative is part of Trump’s broader strategy to reduce the 2.3 million civilian workforce, which he has criticized as ineffective and biased against him.
Trump has ordered government agencies to prepare for extensive job cuts, and several agencies have already begun laying off recent hires who lack full job security.
Sources indicate that some agencies have been directed to cut up to 70% of their staff.
Employee unions had advised their members not to accept the buyout, warning that Trump cannot be trusted to uphold the agreement.
The offer promises employees their full salaries and benefits until October without requiring them to work, but there is no firm guarantee. Current spending laws expire on March 14, and there is no assurance that salaries will be funded beyond that point.
Trump has appointed billionaire Elon Musk to lead the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency,” which is reviewing payment and personnel records to cut $1 trillion from last year’s $6.75 trillion federal budget, despite civilian worker salaries accounting for less than 5% of the total.
