About 75,000 federal employees signed up for a voluntary resignation program inspired by President Donald Trump’s “efficiency czar,” billionaire Elon Musk. This number, while substantial, fell short of the White House’s expectations and raises the likelihood of more significant mass layoffs.
This total represents about 3% of the 2.4 million civilian federal workforce. Previously, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt set the goal at 5% to 10%. However, on Thursday, Leavitt expressed satisfaction with the outcome:
“I’m not so sure that we didn’t hit the numbers we wanted — 75,000 people accepted the buyout program,” she said. “That’s going to save millions of dollars for American taxpayers, and that’s exactly what we wanted.”
The “Fork in the Road” Program and Workforce Reductions
The deferred resignation plan, known as “Fork in the Road,” allowed employees to leave in February but remain on the federal payroll until the end of September. The program closed on Wednesday night after a federal judge in Boston lifted an order freezing it. The Trump administration repeatedly warned workers that the buyout offer might be their best option before large-scale job cuts.
Under former President Joe Biden, the federal workforce grew by 6.3%, fueled by pandemic spending programs. A 3% reduction would merely bring the workforce back to 2023 levels.
Executive Order and Elon Musk’s Influence
On Tuesday, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk by his side, Trump signed an executive order directing agency heads to “promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force.” Exceptions will be made for public safety, immigration enforcement, and law enforcement.
Musk, known as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has been the driving force behind efforts to streamline government operations. The resignation program’s name, “Fork in the Road,” echoes a similar initiative Musk launched at Twitter shortly after acquiring the social media company, which he has since rebranded as X.
Even the program’s closure reflected Musk’s influence. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to federal employees on Wednesday night stating that any resignations received after 7:20 p.m. Washington time would not be accepted, mirroring Musk’s decisive approach during his restructuring of Twitter.
Implications and Future Outlook
Although the 75,000 resignations fell short of the initial target, the reductions are expected to save significant costs for the federal budget. However, if further cuts are needed to meet efficiency goals, the Trump administration may proceed with more extensive layoffs in the near future.
The “Fork in the Road” program marks a critical step in Trump’s push to streamline government, showcasing the close collaboration between his administration and Elon Musk in pursuing public sector reform.
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