Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration made headlines after it was revealed that tens of thousands of U.S. civil servants were given the option to take a buyout.
According to Reuters, about 75,000 signed up for the buyout, citing a spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This was equal to 3 percent of the civilian workforce.
On Friday, another agency offered their employees tens of thousands of dollars to quit.
According to POLITICO, the Department of Education is offering a buyout of up to $25,000 to most of its employees.
Employees have until Monday at 11:59 p.m. to make their decision. The email was sent on Friday afternoon by Jacqueline Clay, a chief human capital officer.
“This is a one time offer in advance of a very significant Reduction in Force for the US Department of Education,” Clay reportedly wrote (via POLITICO):
Those who take the offer can stack it with retirement benefits. They will receive the equivalence of severance pay or $25,000, whichever is less, Clay wrote in an email. The offer would take effect March 31.
Most department employees are eligible. A few exceptions include those that are using disability retirement, received a student loan repayment benefit in the last 36 months or was awarded a retention bonus in the last 12 months.
Trump selected Linda McMahon for secretary of education in his administration. However, Trump has floated the idea of eliminating the department altogether.
In her confirmation hearing, McMahon stated that Trump’s administration will work to give more power to states when it comes to education, as Townhall covered.
“I believe, as does the president, that the best education is closest to the child…Parents and school officials who understand the needs of those children and those communities can best direct the education in those states. States will be competitive,” she said.
