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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA supervisor in a government agency now run by allies of billionaire Elon Musk told staff early this week that layoffs across the federal government are “likely” after Thursday’s deadline to accept the deferred resignation offer, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post—a step toward forcibly removing many of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees.
“Please know that I empathize with the tough decisions you each are having to make,” wrote Erv Koehler, assistant commissioner of general supplies and services at the General Services Administration, in the email. “Please focus on making the best decision for you and your particular situation.”
Reached by phone, Koehler declined to comment.
Heads of federal agencies are under increasing pressure from the Trump administration to slash the size of their staff after early indications of the deferred resignation program show officials still short of realizing their goal of 2% to 5% reduction. An Office of Personnel Management official on Friday said more than 20,000 people had accepted the offer, but declined to provide a specific figure.
Layoffs, known in federal government lingo as “Reductions in Force,” are infrequent. They have historically been used when an agency is reorganizing, lacks enough funding to support its current staff, or wants to contract out certain functions to the private sector.
The notice marked a shift in tone from the Trump administration, which initially hoped to cajole tens of thousands of federal workers to leave their jobs through incentives. The email blast to the entire workforce with the deferred resignation offer, which allows employees to quit now and be paid through September, was followed by upbeat communications touting its benefits—advising workers they could essentially take months of paid vacation and would not be expected to work.
But the offer was followed by calls from unions and Democratic lawmakers to ignore it. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions that represent federal employees filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the Federal District Court in Massachusetts seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the Thursday deadline.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley, in a statement, called the offer “slick talk from unelected billionaires” and said it was “unfunded, unlawful, and comes with no guarantees.”
Soon after sending an email to many agencies—obtained by The Washington Post—that advised staffers the government would likely conduct layoffs, the federal personnel office on Tuesday sent an email to the entire workforce, reminding them of the Thursday deadline.
Meanwhile, officials told leadership at OPM that the personnel office would aim to cut its staff by about 70%, according to two career staffers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of professional retaliation.
At town hall meetings Tuesday afternoon, National Science Foundation leadership warned hundreds of their employees of a significant layoff coming in the next few months, according to three NSF employees who shared details of those meetings on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak. People at the meetings said that while they were not specifically encouraged to take the deferred resignation option, they were reminded that it was available, with a deadline of Thursday.
And at the GSA, which manages real estate and some procurement and information technology across the federal government, management is looking to cut its staff in half, according to two people familiar with internal conversations, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to share private discussions. Managers this week had to give Trump officials a “bare minimum” of full-time staff they would need to function with half their budget, according to documents and interviews with GSA employees. The lists, for some, were due Tuesday.
The last time the GSA laid off staff was during the Reagan administration, when more than 800 of 11,500 employees received reduction-in-force notices. Some were let go, while others were shifted out of their jobs or demoted.
The Trump administration has cast the federal government as bloated and too easy on low performers, which officials say justifies mass layoffs. But the government has regulations that govern job cuts: An employee’s seniority, performance, whether they are a veteran and other factors must be taken into account.
Since the offer went out, Democratic lawmakers and unions representing career civil servants have been outspoken, calling the program a scam. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) on the Senate floor said the “president has no authority to make that offer”—warning, “If you accept that offer and resign, he’ll stiff you.”
The government is only funded through mid-March for now, well before the offer of close to eight months’ paid leave ends on Sept. 30. The personnel office in an FAQ said any government shutdown could potentially affect an employee’s pay regardless of whether he or she has accepted the deferred resignation offer.
On Monday, 11 attorneys general across the country issued a warning about what they called the Trump administration’s “misleading” offer.
“President Trump’s so-called buyout offers are nothing more than the latest attack on federal workers and the services they provide,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “Federal employees should be cautious and follow the guidance of their unions to protect their rights.”
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Only the laziest and least competent managers lack the imagination and purpose to find effective and productive work for their employees. This is a terrible sign for this administration.
Only the laziest and least competent elected officials can’t be bothered to pass their changes into law.
Republicans have full control of the executive and legislative branches. What’s their excuse?
I think it’s time to put a freeze on Congress and Senate pay raises.And take away some of their benefits too.
These democrats in Washington need to be removed for insightful hate speech and in-sighting rhetoric of hate protesters. Makes one think they are on the take with
How they are acting. You would think they would work together with the Republicans to save money for the American taxpayers?? No they are in sighting lies and hate .
Diane – the republicans stormed the capitol and murdered police officers…. Why would anyone want to work with someone who thinks those people did the right thing?
Frankie, the “rule of law” claim for Republicans is kind of like how they claim to care about the deficit … but lose interest as soon as soon as the rich can get another tax cut.
Folks like Diane aren’t capable of the thought that the only way you’re gonna make a dent in the deficit is by raising taxes AND cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and social security.
They actually believe Trump when he claims he won’t make cuts in those areas. It’s adorable.
The national government is a DISASTER…A BEHEMOTH THAT MUST BE MOSTLY ELIMINATED!!
The government tax regime is EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE AS MOST ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE OR SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
It’s way past time to dismantle most of the federal bureacracy…many departments, such as the DOE should be eliminated and most of the funds can be block-granted to the states to fund real, full SCHOOL CHOICE…and that’s just the beginning!
Oh, and in regard to the prior posts….WHY DO DEMOCRATS WANT TO WAST TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON PURE UNADULTERATED WASTE????
someone forgot to take their pill.
That’s fine. Republicans control congress and the presidency. Pass laws to make those changes. There’s nothing stopping them.
What is nonsense and unacceptable is having an unelected drug using billionaire who his own lawyers didn’t want to have a security clearance doing it fly by night style, like he’s a one man private equity firm.
Does the rule of law matter all the time or not?
Our federal government is way to large and needs to be dismantled and rebuilt to be more efficient and accountable for their spending of Americans taxpayers money. Time to clean up the waste and fraud in our government.
How do you think all these politicians become millionaires?
We don’t see to many politicians giving up their paychecks to help people. But they sure can go after these billionaires who give their hard earned money to help people.
I think term limits are needed in the Senate and Congress.
hahaha
I remember 27 years ago I was getting my BS in Computer Technology and an AS in business from Purdue. I wanted to get an internship while a junior, looks good for employers. I landed a 25 hour a week paid job at the Indiana Department of Fish and Wildlife downtown. I was there for 6 months. i was completely SHOCKED at how little was actually being done there. Most people in the office would be standing around their cubicles talking, drinking coffee, eating donuts. Nothing was actually being done. I was in IT and at one point we were waiting on computers to be shipped to us to install elsewhere. I asked what else we should be doing, my direct supervisor just said chill in your office cubicle, we don’t really have anything to do right now. i spent 2 weeks at least(as well as the other 7 or 8 IT people there) just browsing the internet and playing games.
It really shocked me just how LAZy many people are that work for government.
I think people havn’t accepted layoffs because they know they really don’t have much skillset outside of a government job and they really think they are going to be able to keep that job of doing nothing…
Just look at our education system just more waste and fraud.
A lot of that money doesn’t go to the schools were good teachers want to teach children a good education in math, science reading just look at these test scores.
One should ask themselves why these Dems are putting up so much resistance against cleaning up waste and fraud in our government???
And they are afraid of Cash Patel for the FBI, that’s because he will go after all the fraudulent going on in our government.
Trotting Schumer needs to be voted out of office with the rest of these nut jobs. You would think they would want to work together to save the Taxpayers money. 💰
We need to help America first not all these corrupt foreign governments who don’t help their people.
Diane will be the last to realize she’s been played by unelected billionaires.
JJ Frankie J,
Two wrongs don’t make it right. Stop living in the past.. it’s time to come together for the good of all Americans.
And to cut all this waste and fraud in our government.
By the way Trump won by a landslide and got the popular votes.
Makes you wonder if there was fraudulent voting going on when Trump lost.
No he didn’t. Wasn’t even close to a landslide.
Obama won by 4x as much in 2008 lol
1984 was Reagan and Bush. And to help you with History President Reagan liked Now President Trump .
Both loved their country America and its people.
Loving your country doesn’t mean you’re actually good at running it.
Reagan destroyed the middle class and trumps here to finally exterminate it.
Joe B
Need to watch Fox Business and learn something. Scott Bessent is speaking now.
Can someone who speaks Democrat, translate for Joe than not all policy makers are elected, and here is the crazy part— I’ve spent hours researching and it turns out Biden’s cabinet was also appointed! Facism!! Dictators!!
Becoming convinced Joe B and John Jacob are roommates
Chuck! Finally a somewhat sane person here.
Remind me, when were Elon’s confirmation hearings when Senators at least pretended to advise and consent? When did he swear that oath to the Constitution?
I mean, nice try and all. But do more research next time.
My first job was cleaning toilets at 14, but thanks all the same. And watch the same FOX that was claiming it was patriotic to pay more for groceries? Make your mind up here.
Given your support for Trump, I’d disagree that you know a con artist when you see one. You’ve been played and haven’t figured it out yet.
Reagan would have long since been kicked out of today’s Republican Party. The same Reagan that vanquished the USSR, to Putin’s chagrin…
JJ Frankie J
The Reagan expansion years marked a period of economic progress for middle class
Americans. Middle class income increased 11 percent after adjustment for inflation, while nearly
20 million new jobs were created. Nonetheless, there are those, such as Secretary Reich, who
have attempted to portray the 1980s as a period of economic hardship and decline for most
Americans.
This paper will rely on data from the Census Bureau to analyze the income growth of the
1980s. The evidence shows that the percentage of households in the low income category
declined during the 1980s, while the proportion of high income households increased.
Furthermore, while the middle class shrank as a share of all households, the reason for this is
upward, not downward, mobility.
Middle Class “Shrinking” Upward
The graph below shows the percentage of all households in low, middle, and high income
categories. During economic decline, household income tends to fall, while during economic
progress, household incomes tend to increase. The 1982-89 expansion conforms to the expected
pattern of income growth during an economic upturn
I guess some didn’t want to work lol.