Education Department Offers $25K Buyouts as Workforce Cuts Loom

Eligible employees have until midnight to accept the voluntary separation incentive ahead of planned reductions under the Trump administration.

The U.S. Department of Education is offering employees up to $25,000 or severance pay, whichever is less, to voluntarily resign or retire by midnight on Monday.
This initiative precedes significant workforce reductions as the Trump administration moves toward downsizing or potentially eliminating the department.
Employees who have received certain bonuses or benefits in recent years, or have fewer than three years of service, are ineligible for the buyout offer.
The buyout program aligns with broader federal workforce reduction efforts overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.
Linda McMahon, nominated as Education Secretary, is expected to oversee departmental restructuring with an emphasis on shifting education responsibilities to states.