75,000 federal workers accept Trump’s resignation offer
- Around 75,000 federal employees accepted a deferred resignation offer to resign while receiving pay through September.
- The offer was met with legal challenges but was eventually allowed to proceed.
- The number of acceptances was significantly lower than the White House's expected goal for workforce reduction.
In early February 2023, approximately 75,000 federal employees in the United States accepted a deferred resignation offer from the White House. This program allowed them to resign while continuing to receive pay until the end of September. The offer was initially suspended due to a legal challenge but was authorized to proceed when U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. ruled that the unions did not have the legal standing to block it. The deadline for accepting this program was also expanded as legal proceedings unfolded, eventually closing on February 8. The White House aimed to reduce the federal workforce by converting a portion of it through voluntary departures. However, the response from federal employees fell significantly short of expectations. Government officials anticipated that between 5% to 10% of the federal workforce would accept this resignation offer, but the final number represented less than 4% of the total federal workforce of approximately two million employees. Upon announcing the offer, it was communicated through mass emails, reflecting a method reminiscent of cost-cutting measures in the private sector, similar to actions taken by prominent figures such as Elon Musk. The administration's move is part of a broader effort to streamline government operations, a topic frequently mentioned in political discussions. In fiscal year 2023, attrition in the federal workforce was noted to be around 5.9% according to the Partnership for Public Service, indicating a generally low turnover in government positions. The Deferred Resignation Program was met with resistance from unions representing over 800,000 federal workers. They argued that the program constituted an arbitrary ultimatum that pressured workers to resign without adequate time to consider the long-term implications. Despite these concerns, the judge emphasized that the unions lacked direct legal standing in this matter, paving the way for the resignation offers to proceed. The outcome of this initiative remains to be seen as the Trump administration continues its goal to significantly reduce the federal workforce and reshape government employment policies.