President Donald Trump has set a deadline for roughly 19,000 federal civilian employees in Louisiana to accept a buyout offer or face a changed work environment. This move is part of Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce and make the government more efficient. Employees have until Thursday to resign and stay on payroll through September, or face enhanced standards of suitability and conduct.
The federal government currently employs about 2.4 million civilians, which is a small percentage of the nation’s total workforce. Trump aims to cut spending and reshape the workforce, aligning with his campaign promises. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the buyout offer as a way to work around civil service laws, estimating that 5% to 10% of the federal workforce may take it.
Louisiana has over 19,000 federal employees, with Mississippi having a similar number. Most federal workers in Louisiana are involved in law enforcement or disaster recovery. The pay for federal jobs ranges from $45,000 to six figures annually, depending on the profession.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has a significant number of federal employees in his constituency due to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. There are legal concerns surrounding the buyout offer, with opponents questioning its compatibility with the Antideficiency Act. While some senators support the offer, others argue that it may require further legal scrutiny. The potential legal challenges highlight the complexities of implementing the buyout offer within the existing legislation.
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