London24NEWS

Trump gives all federal staff a seven-month buyout to stop

In what could result in an unprecedented purge of the federal workforce, the Trump administration is offering a seven-month buyout to employees who don’t want to return to their offices — but only if they quit by next Thursday.

The White House’s Office of Personnel Management sent an email blast to federal government workers asking them to reply to an email if they want to take the offer, which will only be available until February 6. If they give up their jobs they’ll be paid until September 30.

Not all employees will be eligible, the office said, according to The Washington Post. Some exceptions will be up to agency heads to implement.

Additional carveouts exist for immigration officers, the Postal Service, armed forces and some in national security-focused roles, the outlet stated.

The move is part of President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate large swaths of the federal workforce.

The administration reportedly expects at least five to 10 percent of the workforce to accept the offer, totaling potentially hundreds of thousands of people.

The administration projects the buyouts could ultimately save up to $100 billion a year. But the collapse of the workforce could gut the provision of public services and crush crackdowns on lawbreakers like tax cheats.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Source: independent.co.uk