Trump Administration's Federal Employee Buyout Plan Faces Legal and Workforce Challenges

With a February 6 deadline, only 1% of federal employees have accepted the offer, while unions file lawsuits questioning its legality and impact.

President Trump's administration offered federal employees a buyout plan, providing full salary and benefits through September 30, 2025, if they resign by February 6.
As of Tuesday, approximately 20,000 federal workers—about 1% of the workforce—have accepted the offer, far below the administration's expectations of 5% to 10%.
The CIA became the first national security agency to extend the buyout offer to its entire workforce, with Director John Ratcliffe citing alignment with Trump's national security priorities.
Unions representing federal workers have filed lawsuits, arguing the buyout plan is unlawful, unfunded, and creates risks for government functionality due to potential mass resignations.
The Trump administration has indicated that workers declining the buyout could face future layoffs as part of its broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government.