Americans eager to see Trump’s promised government downsizing are witnessing the first major steps as HHS employees have been offered $25,000 to walk away. This unprecedented move signals the administration’s serious commitment to draining the swamp.
At a glance:
- HHS sent voluntary buyout offers worth up to $25,000 to approximately 80,000 employees
- The initiative aligns with President Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously warned staff working for “pharmaceutical industry” interests
- Employees have until Friday at 5 p.m. to accept the offer
- HHS is the second-costliest agency in the U.S. budget, handling $2.4 trillion in resources
Trump Administration Begins Federal Workforce Reduction
The Health and Human Services Department has launched a major workforce reduction initiative by offering employees up to $25,000 to voluntarily leave their positions. This move represents one of the first concrete steps in President Donald Trump’s promised overhaul of the federal bureaucracy.
Trump said he’d do it, and he’s doing it. With help from a Kennedy…
An unsigned email was sent to approximately 80,000 HHS employees offering the “voluntary separation incentive payment” with a tight deadline of Friday at 5 p.m. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) authorized the initiative, specifically targeting employees in surplus positions or those with obsolete skill sets.
Kennedy’s Warning to Agency Employees
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been direct about his intentions to reshape the department since taking office. In previous statements, Kennedy made clear distinctions between employees who would remain valued and those who should seek employment elsewhere.
“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.
The buyout offer comes as part of broader efforts by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to streamline federal agencies. President Trump has been clear about the mandate given to agency heads while emphasizing that Musk would intervene if necessary.
“If they can cut, it’s better. If they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting,” President Trump also said.
Major Budget Implications
The significance of this initiative cannot be overstated considering HHS’s massive financial footprint. The department accounts for 20.6% of the entire U.S. budget for Fiscal Year 2025, controlling approximately $2.4 trillion in resources.
HHS oversees critical agencies including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. These agencies have faced increased scrutiny under the Trump administration for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and relationships with pharmaceutical companies.
The voluntary redundancy program aims to minimize disruptions by avoiding more costly and administratively burdensome involuntary reductions in force. Employees eligible for optional or early retirement can also take the payment, potentially accelerating the department’s workforce transformation.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has used buyouts to reshape the federal workforce. A similar offer was made in January to approximately 2 million federal workers, with about 75,000 accepting the terms and departing government service.
