The Trump administration is taking bold action to shrink the size of the federal government, rolling out a buyout program designed to encourage workers to transition to the private sector. With a deadline of February 6, federal employees must decide whether to accept the offer, which provides about eight months of pay in exchange for their resignation.

This initiative is part of President Donald J. Trump’s broader push to rein in a federal workforce that many believe has grown bloated and inefficient. The buyout is open to full-time federal workers, excluding those involved in national security, immigration enforcement, or the military. Employees who choose to accept will continue receiving government pay while pursuing private sector employment or other opportunities.

The Office of Personnel Management sent an email outlining the buyout terms, emphasizing that many private sector positions offer higher salaries than government jobs. The administration has also made it clear that those who remain will be expected to return to in-person work full-time, ending the widespread remote work policies that persisted long after the pandemic.

A Senate investigation found that only 6% of federal employees were working in-office full-time, and occupancy in federal buildings had dropped to around 12%. The Trump administration sees these numbers as evidence of inefficiency and has been working to reverse policies that allowed federal workers to remain out of the office while still collecting taxpayer-funded salaries.

Union leaders have criticized the buyout plan, arguing that it is a political maneuver to force out employees not aligned with the administration’s agenda. However, supporters argue that reducing the federal workforce is a necessary step in cutting government waste and returning power to taxpayers.

With the deadline fast approaching, the number of employees who take the buyout could determine the future of federal employment. Many see this as just the beginning of broader efforts to eliminate unnecessary positions and streamline government agencies.