White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the latest liberal outrage that federal worker buyout offers are a way to “purge” the government of President Donald Trump’s critics.
This week, federal workers got an email offering a “deferred resignation program” until February 6. The workers would get paid and get benefits until September if they were hired. The plan is part of Trump’s bigger plan to cut spending and get government workers back to work.
Leavitt called it an “overwhelmingly popular policy” outside of Washington, DC, when asked if the buyout offer was simply a way to “purge people who don’t agree with the president” from the government.
“That’s absolutely false. This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. And if they don’t, then they have the option to resign. And this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months. 6% of the federal workforce in this city actually shows up to work. That’s unacceptable. We’re all here at work at the office,” Leavitt declared.
“There are law enforcement officers and teachers and nurses across the country who showed up to the office today. People in this city need to do the same. It’s an overwhelmingly popular policy with people outside of Washington DC. The president campaigned on this and his administration is keeping a promise,” Leavitt added.
Leavitt also said there wouldn’t be any extra costs because of the office space, saying that the government already pays for buildings that are empty.
“We’re going to make good use of the office space in this city by having these federal workers return to work. I would also add that the order simply directs federal agencies to come up with a return to work plan. And so this isn’t a purge and this isn’t forcing every single individual in Washington DC to return to work,” she said. “Only if they are able and, of course, within the law.”
WATCH:
'Absolutely False!' Trump Spox Karoline Leavitt Denies Federal Worker Buyouts Are a 'Purge of People Who Don't Agree with the President' https://t.co/d0hfVj9VU1
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 29, 2025
