Fed Workers ‘Kicking And Screaming’ At Trump’s Buyout Offer

[mystery-ak]

Fed Workers ‘Kicking And Screaming’ At Trump’s Buyout Offer


Audrey Streb
Contributor
January 30, 2025 3:55 PM ET


Government workers are reeling after President Donald Trump’s administration presented a “payout” to federal employees refusing to return to the office on a full-time basis.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to millions of government employees on Tuesday, offering eight months of pay if they resigned by Feb. 6. In response, federal employees and Democratic representatives have lodged anonymous complaints to media outlets.

This followed Trump’s executive order forcing government workers to return to the office on a full-time basis on Jan. 20. “It was the batshit craziest email I’ve ever read,” one anonymous employee told POLITICO’S E&E News. “They’re gonna have to take me out kicking and screaming.” “It’s just not happening,” said one United States Department of Energy worker.

“There’s no way I’m sending ‘Resign’ to this jinky email address,” another staffer said. “I don’t care what you throw at me,” one U.S. National Science Foundation worker said, noting that they were “more angry now” and they were “not going to quit.”

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https://dailycaller.com/2025/01/30/fed-workers-kicking-and-screaming-at-trumps-buyout-offer/

[Wingnut]

It's hard to give up sucking the Government teat.

[DB]

The entitlement mindset has to be broken as clearly demonstrated by these people. Break it, break it hard.

[Bigun]

The entitlement mindset has to be broken as clearly demonstrated by these people. Break it, break it hard.

 

[catfish1957]

Need to go scorched earth on non-military deadheaded fed leaches...... 

Cut 'em off at the knees.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Take the money while it's on the table, and enjoy your Summer.

One thing worse than be laid-off is being one of the remaining S.O.B.'s that now has to do the work of three people.

[Polly Ticks]

This is the stupidest thing I've heard in a while.  It was an OFFER.  If you don't want to take that offer, then just say no. No kicking and screaming required.

[Wingnut]

So the federal workers are concerned that returning to the office would interfere with them not working.

[bilo]

This is the stupidest thing I've heard in a while.  It was an OFFER.  If you don't want to take that offer, then just say no. No kicking and screaming required.

My thoughts exactly.

It will be sad to read the stories about federal employees that turned down the offer and then lost their jobs because their department was eliminated, but that was their choice. They gambled that they would have a lifetime of unaccountable employment and lost.

It sure seems like 8 months of pay is a pretty good offer. 

[Cyber Liberty]

My thoughts exactly.

It will be sad to read the stories about federal employees that turned down the offer and then lost their jobs because their department was eliminated, but that was their choice. They gambled that they would have a lifetime of unaccountable employment and lost.

It sure seems like 8 months of pay is a pretty good offer.

It's better than what I got .

[jafo2010]

catfish 1957...

Need to go scorched earth on non-military deadheaded fed leaches......

Cut 'em off at the knees.

Yeah, well, that is one way to go.  But unlike Twitter, a for profit entity, and NOT a government organization with civil service rules, unions, etc, this approach will end the Republicans majority position come November, 2026.

I spent a lifetime reducing operations, going in, cutting waste, improving production, etc, and believe me, this will result in catastrophic outcomes in 2026.

And it is very likely that Trump/Musk get shut down in the courts, where all of this will be decided.  That will make the two of them look like the tools they are on this.

And yes, I believe the federal government should be reduced at a minimum of 40% across the board, and this drama queen approach of Trump's will have him taking it in the posterior. 

[Wingnut]

It's better than what I got .

Yup me too.  1 weeks pay for every year worked and a stinking 100 dollar EE Savings Bond!    Bless their hearts.

[jafo2010]

Actually, the plan to provide 8 months of additional service is largely directed at those nearing retirement, or beyond it, and they get one more year in their formula for retirement.  This purges some of the highest compensated folks, opens a position, or should I say empties it.

But even this approach was done in a hostile way, and not a friendly way.  If you want to get someone to do something, you do not insult them, kick them in the teeth, or outright threaten them, for that can work contrary to the desired goal.

These memos are utterly stupid.  Musk really is out of his element dealing with government, and he and Trump will have a falling out soon, if Trump is smart. 

[DB]

Actually, the plan to provide 8 months of additional service is largely directed at those nearing retirement, or beyond it, and they get one more year in their formula for retirement.  This purges some of the highest compensated folks, opens a position, or should I say empties it.

But even this approach was done in a hostile way, and not a friendly way.  If you want to get someone to do something, you do not insult them, kick them in the teeth, or outright threaten them, for that can work contrary to the desired goal.

These memos are utterly stupid.  Musk really is out of his element dealing with government, and he and Trump will have a falling out soon, if Trump is smart.

I don't think there is any "friendly" way to do it that will actually work. Either you seize the moment or fail. It is a massive bureaucracy that protects its own. You have to break it quickly to fix it. Otherwise you get bogged down by a million little anchors and go nowhere.

[mountaineer]

So the federal workers are concerned that returning to the office would interfere with them not working.

And working their side hustles.

[bilo]

It's better than what I got .

Exactly!

Private employers may only offer 2 weeks notice in a lot of cases, if that.

[bilo]

I don't think there is any "friendly" way to do it that will actually work. Either you seize the moment or fail. It is a massive bureaucracy that protects its own. You have to break it quickly to fix it. Otherwise you get bogged down by a million little anchors and go nowhere.

Also, there really isn't any goodwill built up after years of govt working to deny American's freedoms.

[the OlLine Rebel]

This could be the Reagan ATC moment.

Albeit, perhaps a bit too massive.

At least they’re offering 8mos pay.  They’d have plenty of time to find a new job.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yeah, well, that is one way to go.  But unlike Twitter, a for profit entity, and NOT a government organization with civil service rules, unions, etc, this approach will end the Republicans majority position come November, 2026.

I spent a lifetime reducing operations, going in, cutting waste, improving production, etc, and believe me, this will result in catastrophic outcomes in 2026.

And it is very likely that Trump/Musk get shut down in the courts, where all of this will be decided.  That will make the two of them look like the tools they are on this.

And yes, I believe the federal government should be reduced at a minimum of 40% across the board, and this drama queen approach of Trump's will have him taking it in the posterior.

I agree with you.

Again, Trump blundering into an issue like a bull in a China shop.

Rather than thinking things through, and being more rational for long-term wins, he goes for the throat and could even destabilize things.

I’m not even thinking about political backlash.  Just the fact you need to sometimes change things gradually (“progressively”) because massive change can result in much destabilization.

[GtHawk]

My thoughts exactly.

It will be sad to read the stories about federal employees that turned down the offer and then lost their jobs because their department was eliminated, but that was their choice. They gambled that they would have a lifetime of unaccountable employment and lost.

It sure seems like 8 months of pay is a pretty good offer.

They are no doubt worried that very few employers are looking to pay employees high wages and benefits to sit at home playing games, working a second job or running a personal business.

[240B]

massive change can result in much destabilization.

@the OlLine Rebel

Good. In this situation, 'destabilization' is the goal.
Destabilization is at the heart of any 'shock and awe' strategy.

[Bigun]

@the OlLine Rebel

Good. In this situation, 'destabilization' is the goal.
Destabilization is at the heart of any 'shock and awe' strategy.

Every government employee needs to be reminded as to who they actually work for and now is as good a time as any to do that.

[240B]

My thoughts exactly.

It will be sad to read the stories about federal employees that turned down the offer and then lost their jobs because their department was eliminated, but that was their choice. They gambled that they would have a lifetime of unaccountable employment and lost.

It sure seems like 8 months of pay is a pretty good offer.

@bilo

Precisely right. I have lived through this exact situation. I have experienced this very program and offer. Because I have never relied on any formal job as my sole source of income I jumped on the offer immediately, and it was fantastic. There is nothing like looking at your checking account and seeing that massive figure looking back at you. It is breathtaking at first.

Six months later my friends were emailing me and crying. The company ran out of funding for the buy-out program. They stopped the offer and began simply laying-off people with the standard package. So all the die-hard people who decided to 'ride it out' ended up unemployed anyway, but with next to nothing.

When packages like this are offered, the people who jump first will get the most. The ones who wait will wind up with whatever is leftover, once the company realizes that they are overpaying. Eventually they will realize that they can just terminate people anyway without being so nice about it.

[Hoodat]

Option 1:  Resign now and receive an 8-month severance package for doing absolutely nothing.

Option 2:  Get fired now and receive absolutely nothing.

[Smokin Joe]

Eight months severance pay?

I'm on my 46th year in the oil industry, and with the cataclysmic ups and downs in commodity prices, and in regulation changes affecting drilling activity, have had eleven different employers in various jobs in the patch in that time. It is eminently possible that you go from making six figures to zero, or the reverse, depending on the market. But severance pay? eight months warning? heck, even benefits were rare enough.

Waaah! I should have had it so good!
We had to file for our "severance" while we were looking for our next job (although most of mine found me).