The Trump administration proposed that about two million federal employees resign with the option to receive a salary until the end of September, aiming to sharply reduce the size of the federal workforce and displace people who do not support President Trump's political agenda.
As reported by The New York Times, in an email, the Office of Personnel Management stated that most federal agencies are likely to be downsized, and a significant number of employees will be dismissed. Those remaining will be subject to "enhanced standards of conduct," and employees must be "reliable, loyal, trustworthy." The email warned employees that "at this time we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency," thus providing the opportunity to leave their positions by writing "resignation" in the subject line and clicking "send." Employees have until February 6 to accept the offer.
After the massive reduction, ordinary tasks such as travel, passport renewals, or filing tax returns may be delayed or disrupted. The operation of national parks and museums, benefit payments, assistance to veterans, and the issuance of food stamps may be affected. Regulators and inspectors overseeing food, water, drugs, and workplace safety may also leave the government.
Among the civil servants who may resign are researchers and doctors, environmental scientists, nuclear specialists, and meteorologists from the National Weather Service.
The Trump administration's message echoes an email sent by billionaire Elon Musk, a frequent companion of Trump in recent months, to Twitter employees after purchasing the social media platform at the end of 2022.
However, according to the law, no employee can be on administrative leave for more than 10 days a year, let alone more than seven months.
According to NYT, President Trump is testing the limits of his power by attempting to circumvent federal law governing payments and rules that have long protected the civil service from political interference and pressure.
Meanwhile, the new administration's decisions are being suspended by federal courts. On Tuesday, a court temporarily blocked Trump's attempt to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid. Just minutes before the decision was to take effect, federal judge Lauren Alihan, appointed by Joe Biden in 2023, blocked the spending freeze, which would have affected thousands of federal subsidy programs—from healthcare to road construction.
Democrats condemned the funding freeze as an illegal encroachment on Congress's authority over federal spending and stated that it already disrupts payments to doctors and preschool teachers. Republicans mostly defended the order as fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to curb the $6.75 trillion budget.
The Trump administration stated that programs providing benefits directly to Americans would not be affected. However, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden stated that doctors in all 50 states would be unable to receive payments from Medicaid, which provides health insurance to 70 million low-income Americans.
Photo: Reuters