Not postal workers nor members of the military: These are the federal employees who can’t take Trump’s buyouts
The incoming administration has issued a call for a ‘reformed federal workforce’, outlining four pillars for workers.
Federal workers in the United States have been given an ultimatum; either submit to a new way of working or be forced into a ‘buyout’ program that will see them leave their jobs.
The move was outlined in a memo posted on the US Office of Personnel Management’s website on Tuesday night, following days of reporting on the change. The key part of the memo, entitled ‘Fork in the Road’, was the demand that those with flexible work arrangements return to the office to work in person.
Anyone who does not wish to return to the previous way of working has until February 6 to tender their resignation and accept the ‘buyout’. Those who do so will receive severance pay through September 30.
The memo reads: “The President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.”
Which employees can’t take the Trump buyout?
Federal workers who choose to stay in their roles will likely see some substantial changes to working conditions in the coming months. There is a significant number of employees, however, who will not have the choice to accept the buyout.
CNN reports that postal workers, immigration officials, members of the military, and certain national security roles will be exempt. The administration reportedly deems them indispensable, highlighting some of the priorities of the incoming government.
Even those who decide against the buyout option could still face uncertainty in the near future. The memo adds that employees who stay cannot be given “full assurance regarding the certainty” of their position, a grim prospect for workers as Trump promises wide-ranging cuts of federal departments.
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