The Trump administration has unveiled a voluntary resignation payout plan for federal employees unwilling to return to in-person work, marking a major shift in government workforce policy. According to an official email sent to millions of government employees, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced Tuesday that federal workers who submit their resignations by February 6 could receive deferred compensation through September 30.
The plan is expected to encourage the resignation of 5-10% of the federal workforce, potentially leading to savings of up to $100 billion.
The email outlined four key pillars of the administration’s federal workforce reform plan:
- Mandatory Return to Office – Ending remote work and requiring employees to resume full-time in-person work.
- Performance-Based Culture – Increasing accountability in the federal workforce.
- Streamlining and Flexibility – Reducing government size and operational costs.
- Enhancing Standards of Conduct – Strengthening workplace expectations.
Employees who choose to remain in their current positions were informed that while their roles are not immediately at risk, the administration cannot guarantee job security as agencies undergo structural changes.
“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated, you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions,” the email stated.
Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, the administration has taken swift action to reverse remote work policies put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of Trump’s first executive orders after his January 20 inauguration required all federal agencies to end remote work policies and mandated a full return to in-office operations.
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“American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government employees and deserve employees working on their behalf who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
She added, “If they don’t want to work in the office and contribute to making America great again, then they are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of eight months.”
The resignation payout offer follows a broader overhaul of the federal workforce initiated by Trump’s executive orders. Last week, Trump signed an order eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across all federal agencies, marking the end of affirmative action in government hiring.
In response, OPM acting Director Charles Ezell issued a memo to department and agency heads, stating that all DEI-related offices and positions must be eliminated within 60 days.
Trump’s federal workforce reforms are part of his broader effort to reduce government spending, increase efficiency, and eliminate what his administration calls “woke” bureaucracy.
With millions of federal employees now weighing their options, the coming weeks will determine the scale of workforce departures and the long-term impact on government operations.
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