Donald Trump is aggressively advancing plans to shrink the U.S. government by offering federal employees eight months’ pay if they voluntarily resign. According to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management, workers have until February 6 to decide. The government’s human resources agency also signaled potential future downsizing, stricter workplace standards, and reduced remote work. With over three million federal employees, the impact of large-scale job cuts remains uncertain.
The voluntary resignation program, known as “deferred resignation,” excludes immigration, national security positions, and U.S. Postal Service workers. NBC News estimates that up to 10% of employees may accept the offer. The program guarantees full pay and benefits until September 30 for those who resign and exempts them from in-person work requirements. Employees were invited to accept the deal by replying to an email with the word “Resign.”
Unions have criticized the move, calling it an attempt to pressure workers into quitting. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, described the initiative as a “purge” aimed at eliminating those not aligned with Trump’s administration. The National Treasury Employees Union warned members that the email was designed to either entice or intimidate them into leaving and urged them not to resign.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter) to encourage federal employees to accept the offer by simply “hitting send.”
Simultaneously, Trump’s administration has implemented a government-wide funding freeze, affecting grants and loans, causing confusion and legal backlash. The Office of Management and Budget issued a directive instructing federal agencies to temporarily halt spending that might conflict with Trump’s policy agenda. The freeze has disrupted non-profits, with some unable to access federal funds for operational costs.
The funding halt has already led to a legal challenge. A lawsuit filed by non-profits resulted in U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocking the freeze just minutes before it was set to take effect. A further court hearing is scheduled to review the matter.
Trump’s aggressive restructuring efforts reflect his broader goal of reshaping the federal government, but they have sparked controversy, legal battles, and uncertainty about the future of public sector employment.
