The Trump administration announced that federal employees who agree by next week to leave their positions in the fall will receive a buyout.

The memo from the government’s human resources agency, the Office of Personnel Management, said it would also apply “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” to all federal employees.

The latest move follows Trump’s criticism of wasteful federal spending, like the $5 billion in taxpayer money spent annually leasing office space despite many government employees working from home. Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to cut a staggering $2 trillion from the overall federal budget.

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The latest memo says Trump’s reformed federal workforce will be built around four distinct pillars:

  1. Return to Office: Federal employees must work in physical offices five days a week. Offices will also be reviewed for potential consolidation efforts, which could result in relocations for some federal employees.
  2. Performance Culture: The federal workforce should prioritize “excellence at every level,” according to the memo.
  3. More Streamlined and Flexible Workforce: Most agencies will experience downsizing via “restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force.”
  4. Enhanced Standards of Conduct: Federal employees will be held to new and enhanced standards of suitability and conduct to ensure the workforce is comprised of individuals “who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work.”

“If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions,” the memo continued.

Federal employees who voluntarily resign by February 6 will retain pay and benefits and “be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025.”

As of November 2024, the U.S. federal government employed more than three million people. This represented nearly 2% of the country’s entire workforce.