Trump administration offers buyouts to remote employees who don’t return to the office
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has made it clear that he is determined to bring federal employees back to work in person. In scathing remarks during the first hearing of the 119th Congress, Comer criticized the Biden administration’s handling of telework policies for federal employees. The Trump administration has taken a different approach, offering buyouts for all federal remote employees as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to get employees back into the office. However, employees only have until Feb. 6 to opt-in to the buyout program.
President Trump issued several directives to the federal workforce during his first week in office, including a requirement that remote employees must return to in-person work. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the importance of federal employees showing up to work in federal buildings paid for by taxpayers, stating that American taxpayers deserve employees who are physically present and working on their behalf.
A government-wide email was sent out on Tuesday outlining the Trump administration’s plan to bring accountability back to the federal government. The email highlighted four pillars set forth by President Trump, including a return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees with policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior executives, and a reformed federal hiring process based on merit.
The majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. The email also mentioned potential consolidation and divestitures of physical offices, which could result in office relocations for some federal workers.
For federal employees who do not wish to continue in their roles, the Trump administration has introduced a deferred resignation program. This program allows employees to resign with dignity and fairness, retaining all pay and benefits regardless of workload. Employees who choose to resign under the program will be exempt from in-person work requirements until Sep. 30, 2025.
It is important to note that the buyout program does not apply to military personnel of the armed forces, the U.S. Postal Services, positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and any other positions specifically excluded by the agency the federal workers are employed by.
Implementation of return-to-work policies will be carried out by each individual agency in accordance with applicable law. The senior administration official estimates that 5 to 10 percent of federal employees may choose to resign, potentially leading to $100 billion in annual savings for federal taxpayers.
In conclusion, Chairman Comer is committed to bringing federal employees back to work in person, emphasizing the importance of accountability and efficiency in government operations. The Trump administration’s buyout program offers employees a dignified exit from the federal government if they choose to resign, with the goal of saving taxpayer dollars and improving productivity in federal agencies.
