Roughly 75,000 federal employees agree to Trump’s buyout offer

Approximately 75,000 federal employees have opted to participate in President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation program, which was initiated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management earlier this year. The program offered buyouts to over 2 million federal civilian employees in January, giving them the choice to either leave their jobs voluntarily or return to work in person.

Those who accepted the offer, also known as the “fork in the road” offer, will retain their full pay and benefits and will be exempt from in-person work until September 30. This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to streamline and downsize the federal government.

President Trump expressed his rationale for the program during a press briefing, stating, “We have too many people. We have office spaces occupied by 4% – nobody showing up to work because they were told not to.” The White House confirmed that the number of employees who have accepted the offer has reached 75,000 as of Thursday morning.

The administration’s buyout offer faced legal challenges, with labor union groups raising concerns that the law did not mandate the administration to uphold its end of the deal. However, U.S. District Judge George O’Toole of Massachusetts ruled in favor of the White House, stating that the plaintiffs do not have a direct stake in the directive.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the court’s decision as “the first of many legal wins for the president,” emphasizing that the administration’s priorities will not be swayed by legal challenges.

In addition to the buyout program, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to collaborate with federal agencies in implementing significant cuts to the federal workforce. The order aims to limit new hires and impose a ratio of one new employee for every four who leave their federal positions.

Agencies are also instructed to develop plans for substantial reductions in force and explore options to consolidate or eliminate non-essential agency functions. These initiatives are part of the administration’s overarching goal to reduce the size of the federal government and improve efficiency.

Overall, the Trump administration is taking proactive steps to reshape the federal workforce and streamline operations. The combination of the buyout program and executive order signifies a strategic approach to downsizing the government and maximizing resources.