Trump calls out federal workers not showing up to the office

President Donald Trump made a bold statement during his address at the U.S. Capitol, calling out the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have not been showing up to work. He emphasized the need to drain “the swamp” and reclaim power from the unaccountable bureaucracy that has plagued the government.

“We have hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have not been showing up to work,” Trump declared. “My administration will reclaim power from this unaccountable bureaucracy, and we will restore true democracy to America again. And any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be removed from office immediately. Because we are draining the swamp. It’s very simple. And the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over.”

As part of his efforts to get employees back into the office, the Trump administration offered buyouts to nearly two million federal workers, including those who work remotely. Originally, employees only had until Feb. 6 to opt-in to the buyout offer. Under this offer, employees who opt-in will stop working in early March and continue to receive pay benefits through Sept. 30.

The White House confirmed that the number of employees accepting the buyout offer had climbed to 75,000 as of Thursday morning, surpassing the initial expectation of 200,000. This move is seen as a significant step towards streamlining the federal workforce and increasing efficiency within the government.

During his first week in office, Trump issued directives requiring remote employees to return to in-person work, prompting a complaint from the American Federation of Government Employees and two other unions. They claimed that the buyout offer was “arbitrary and capricious” and violated federal law. The unions raised concerns about the administration’s ability to fund the plan and the potential consequences of mass resignations on the government’s functionality.

The debate over the buyout offer and the push to bring federal workers back into the office highlights the ongoing efforts to reform the government and increase accountability within the federal workforce. As the administration continues to implement changes, the impact on government efficiency and effectiveness remains a key focus.

Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital, provided insights into the latest developments regarding the buyout offer and the administration’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce. For more updates on this story and other breaking news, you can follow Greg Wehner on Twitter @GregWehner or email story tips and ideas to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com.