White House expecting ‘spike’ in federal resignations as at least 20K take buyouts’

The Trump administration is making headlines once again as it offers buyouts to federal employees in an effort to bring workers back into the office. Fox News’ Peter Doocy has reported on the latest developments, including the White House’s expectation of a “spike” in resignations ahead of the Thursday deadline for the buyout offer.

According to Fox News Digital, nearly all federal employees have been given the option to take a buyout as part of President Trump’s plan to have government employees physically return to their offices after years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline for employees to accept the offer is fast approaching, and the administration is anticipating a surge in resignations in the next two days.

A White House official revealed to Fox News Digital that the number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, with the largest spike expected just before the deadline. While Axios had reported that roughly 20,000 federal employees had accepted the buyout offer, the White House official clarified that this figure is not current.

The Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s human resources department, informed approximately 2 million federal employees on January 28 that they would need to work in their offices five days a week or take the buyout offer. Those who choose to accept the offer will continue to receive their pay and benefits and will not be required to work in person until September 30.

President Trump has expressed his belief that a significant number of employees will choose not to return to work, resulting in a smaller and more efficient government. The buyouts do not apply to certain positions, such as military personnel, postal workers, or roles related to immigration enforcement and national security.

In addition to the buyout offer, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been scrutinizing various government agencies and departments to cut overspending and address alleged corruption. Most recently, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has come under DOGE’s scrutiny, with hundreds of employees reportedly locked out of the agency’s computer system.

Elon Musk has been vocal in his criticism of USAID, labeling it a “criminal organization” and calling for its demise. The agency has been accused of harboring “radical-left marxists” who Musk believes are working against American interests.

As the deadline for the buyout offer approaches and tensions rise within government agencies, it is clear that the Trump administration is making significant changes to the federal workforce. Stay tuned for further developments on this story as it continues to unfold.