The U.S. Department of Education is offering a one-time incentive of up to $25,000 to the majority of its staff to resign or retire by Monday evening, ahead of anticipated workforce reductions. In a department-wide email obtained and first reported by Politico, employees were given until 11:59 p.m. on Monday to accept or decline the offer.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed the announcement, stating, “We can confirm that the Education Department emailed its staff today, offering employees up to a $25,000 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) starting today.” Jacqueline Clay, the Chief Human Capital Officer, emphasized in the email that this is a one-time offer ahead of a significant Reduction in Force.
Clay explained that the payout would be “the equivalent of severance pay or $25,000, whichever is less.” Most department employees are eligible for the buyout, with exceptions including those using disability retirement, individuals who received a student loan repayment benefit in the last 36 months, or those awarded a retention bonus in the past 12 months. The offer is set to take effect on March 31.
This development coincides with the Senate’s confirmation of Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary. Trump has long expressed his desire to abolish the Department of Education, calling it a “con job” that has failed to properly educate American students. “We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we’re ranked No. 40,” Trump previously stated.
The Trump administration has already taken steps to scale back the department, with dozens of employees on administrative leave and nearly $1 billion in contracts canceled. In February, the department scrapped $350 million in “woke” spending, including 10 contracts with Regional Educational Laboratories (REL) worth $336 million, citing “wasteful and ideologically driven spending not in the interest of students and taxpayers.”
While the complete elimination of the Department of Education would require congressional action, the agency is undergoing significant reductions. Trump has indicated that if McMahon is confirmed, he wants her to “put herself out of a job.”
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Stepheny Price, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, and illegal immigration. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
Stay updated with the latest news! For more information and updates, visit ZTC News and ZNews Today.