Trump administration begins shrinking the federal government as HHS offers employees $25,000 to walk away from their jobs. The move comes as RFK Jr. takes control of one of the government’s most powerful departments with plans to shake up agencies like the FDA and CDC.
At a glance:
• The Health and Human Services Department has offered approximately 80,000 employees up to $25,000 to voluntarily leave their positions
• The offer, approved by the Office of Personnel Management, targets employees in surplus positions or with obsolete skills
• Employees must submit required forms by Friday at 5 p.m. to be considered for the payment
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously mentioned having a list of staffers he wants removed, particularly those working for pharmaceutical interests
• The initiative aligns with President Trump’s broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce, supported by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency
Trump Administration Moving Fast to Trim Federal Workforce
The Health and Human Services Department is offering employees up to $25,000 to voluntarily leave their positions as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce. The unsigned email was sent to approximately 80,000 HHS employees with a response deadline of March 14.
The initiative targets employees in surplus positions or those with skills that are no longer needed by the department. HHS is the second-costliest agency in the U.S. budget, accounting for 20.6% of federal spending with $2.4 trillion in resources for Fiscal Year 2025.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made it clear which types of employees should consider the buyout offer. “If you’ve been involved in good science, you have got nothing to worry about. If you care about public health, you’ve got nothing to worry about. If you’re in there working for the pharmaceutical industry, then I’d say you should move out and work for the pharmaceutical industry,” Kennedy stated.
Major Restructuring Ahead for Health Agencies
The voluntary program is available to most HHS employees, including those working at critical health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). These agencies have enormous influence over American healthcare and public health policy.
The buyout offer is designed to minimize involuntary separations and avoid costly reductions in force proceedings. Employees eligible for optional or early retirement can also take advantage of the payment, giving many longtime bureaucrats a financial incentive to step aside.
Liberal Experts Express Concern Over Staff Reductions
Some critics worry that staff reductions could hamper Kennedy’s ability to implement his priorities, which include significant changes to vaccine policies and food regulations. Kennedy has been a vocal critic of what he sees as pharmaceutical industry influence within government health agencies.
Dorit Reiss, a critic of the administration’s approach, claimed: “Cutting staff is one challenge Mr. Kennedy will face. That challenge will be exacerbated by his lack of expertise about the department’s general functions, something in which an expert staff could help him with.”
The current buyout initiative follows a similar offer made in January by the Trump administration to about 2 million federal workers, with approximately 75,000 accepting. The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority allows agencies to offer these lump-sum payments up to $25,000 to encourage employees to leave their positions without forcing layoffs.
