Washington: Approximately 75,000 federal employees have opted into the deferred buyout program introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration, a spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management confirmed late Wednesday. The initiative is part of a broader effort to downsize the U.S. civil service, which Trump has repeatedly criticized as inefficient and politically biased against him.
The administration has also directed federal agencies to prepare for substantial job cuts, with some already laying off recent hires who lack full job security. According to sources familiar with the matter, officials have been instructed to prepare for workforce reductions of up to 70% in certain departments.
Despite the significant uptake, labor unions had strongly advised their members against accepting the buyout, warning that the administration may not honor the terms. The program offers employees their regular salaries and benefits until October without requiring them to work. However, uncertainty looms over its sustainability, as current spending laws are set to expire on March 14, with no assurance that salaries will be funded beyond that date.
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Trump has appointed billionaire Elon Musk to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, which is conducting a comprehensive review of federal payment and personnel records. The department aims to slash $1 trillion from the federal budget, which stood at $6.75 trillion last year. While civilian worker salaries account for less than 5% of the total federal expenditure, Musk’s team has been tasked with identifying areas for cuts and streamlining government operations.
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