Federal managers are alerting their employees that a government-wide reduction-in-force is possible when the “buy out” offered by President Trump expires on Thursday; see Art of the Deal: Trump Admin. Offers Buyouts to 2 Million Federal Employees – RedState.
The assistant commissioner of a division of the General Services Administration told staff early this week that layoffs across the federal government are “likely” after the deferred resignation offer expires Thursday, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post — the sharpest move yet toward forcibly removing many of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees.
Two agencies are looking at major hits. The government’s personnel agency, the Office of Personnel Management, has been directed to prepare for a 70 percent reduction in programs and headcount. The General Services Administration, the government’s landlord and logistics agency, is looking at a 50 percent reduction in activities, personnel, and contracts. Even though over 20,000 federal employees have taken the buyout offer, that is far short of the reduction envisioned by the Trump administration.
Reducing the federal workforce, along with moving 100,000 federal workers out of the DC area, was a key Trump campaign promise. Initiating legally defensible RIFs is not a casual activity. “federal law requires RIFs be rooted in certain activities, such as a reorganization, lack of work or a shortage of funds.” Some of Trump’s executive orders seem aimed at documenting a “lack of work” by removing activities agencies were involved in. The order to agencies to identify Congressionally mandated activities also appears to be laying the groundwork for a RIF.
That right!! No reason needed for the layoff. Reduction in Force is what it is, reduction in force. Get over it.