200,000 U.S federal workers may resign under deferred resignation program

According to the U.S Office of Personnel Management, up to 10% or around 200,000 of the more than two million federal workers, will accept the deferred resignation program which could save the government up to $100bn (£80bn).

The deferred resignation program is a buyout package option from President Trump’s executive order, offered to nearly all federal workers who have been working remotely since the pandemic, to return to the office five days a week, but have decided not to opt for the work in office.

This move is also a significant effort to reduce the size of the U.S government and bring about significant changes.

He noted that workers that they must decide by February 6 if they wish to participate in a “deferred resignation program.”

These directives includes a mandate for employees to return to in-person work, the restoration of accountability for policy-making officials and senior career executives, and a reform of the federal hiring process to emphasise merit.

According to the message, those who choose to leave their positions by the specified date will receive approximately eight months’ salary as a severance package.

Read also: Here are the executive orders signed by Donald Trump

Employees interested in the offer were instructed to reply to the email with “resign” in the subject line. The package includes both pay and benefits for workers until September 30.

However, certain employees, including postal workers, members of the military, immigration officials, and some national security personnel, were excluded from the offer, as stated in the email.

According to the U.S Office of Personnel Management, the President requires that employees return to in-person work, restore accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reform the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

“The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars: Return to office, performance culture, more flexible and streamlined workforce and enhance code of conduct.

“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”, the message read.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, said the government’s two million workers were “overwhelmingly left of centre, adding that it was essential for Trump to get control of government”.