Karoline Leavitt reveals just 6% of federal staff in DC show up to the office as she defends Trump's buyouts for 2 MILLION workers
The White House on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's proposed buyout for federal workers, dismissing accusations that it was somehow a 'purge' of the federal workforce.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded reporters gathered in the White House driveway Wednesday morning that only six percent of federal workers in Washington, DC work full time in the office.
'This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. If they don't then they have the option to resign and this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months,' Leavitt said.
'This government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space that is beautiful, I mean look at the beautiful buildings in this city. They're gorgeous, they've been here for decades.'
Employees have to resign by February 6 to take advantage of the buyout proposal.
The newly created Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, reminded federal workers that if they took the buyout, they would receive full benefits and pay for eight months.
'Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits, the department wrote on social media, sharing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walks over to speak with reporters at the White House,
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walks into the White House after speaking with reporters.
The offer applies to all federal government employees except for workers in immigration enforcement, national security or military personnel.
The federal employee union American Federation of Government Employees criticized Trump's offer in a statement.
'Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,' said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.
She criticized Trump's buyout plan as one more way he was trying to bully federal workers out of a job.
'it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to,' she concluded.
The U.S. Department of Education building
The US Department of Energy headquarters
The Trump administration started sending emails to thousands of federal workers Tuesday evening offering them a chance to voluntarily vacate their government posts while remaining on the payroll for months.
An email landed in federal workers' inboxes offering them a package and the ability to voluntarily separate from the federal government before the new Department of Government Efficiency starts identifying areas that could afford to be cut.
'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,' reads the email, titled 'Fork in the Road.'
To take the deal, employees were told to type the word 'resign' into the subject line of their response.
The 'majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,' according to the email.
A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management said the employees who accept the terms were being offered the chance to go on administrative leave through Sept. 30 at full pay.
