The offer came ahead of what the agency’s chief human resources officer described as a “very significant” looming workforce reduction.
Trump wants Education secretary to ‘put herself out of a job’
President Donald Trump told reporters that Linda McMahon, his nominee to lead the Education Dept., should eventually “put herself out of a job.”
WASHINGTON – Quit by Monday and get $25,000. Maybe.
That was the message of a Friday afternoon email from the U.S. Department of Education’s top human resources official, who made the “one-time offer” to all staffers ahead of what she called a “very significant” impending workforce reduction.
“We are pleased to offer ED employees up to a $25,000 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) starting today, including those who wish to retire,” wrote Jacqueline Clay, the agency’s chief human capital officer.
Staffers have until Monday at 11:59 p.m. to accept. Their resignations would take effect on March 31, according to the email.
Not every employee who elects to take the buyout would be eligible for a $25,000 payment, however. Clay’s memo says the award would be “the equivalent of severance pay or $25,000, whichever is less.” She encouraged staffers to use their benefit statements to estimate their severance packages before taking the offer.
There are more caveats: Those eligible must have been employed by the federal government for at least three consecutive years. They also cannot have received a student loan repayment benefit in the last three years. Other types of awards – including relocation, recruitment or retention bonuses – would be disqualifying for some.
The memo is the latest sign of tumult at the federal Education Department, which has already experienced serious turnover since President Donald Trump took office. His administration has warned of major layoffs across the federal workforce in the coming weeks and months. The president said recently he wants the Education Department to be “closed immediately.”
Linda McMahon, his nominee to lead the department who will likely be confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate on Monday, has acknowledged that only Congress has the power to shutter federal agencies.
Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
