It seems like a recurring theme in the federal landscape lately: offering employees a chance to resign with pay. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is once again extending this option, with employees having a tight window from April 7th to April 30th to decide. Secretary Doug Collins has made it clear the aim is to trim the workforce by about 15%, a significant number when you consider the department's vast operations. He'd previously mentioned a target of laying off roughly 80,000 employees, a figure that certainly catches your attention.
This isn't an isolated incident, either. The VA is just the latest federal agency to implement such a program. We saw a similar initiative rolled out to millions of federal employees, with around 75,000 taking the offer. Interestingly, the notification email for that program used the subject line “Fork in the Road,” a phrase that might ring a bell for those who followed the significant workforce changes at Twitter after its acquisition.
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is also undergoing substantial restructuring. Reports indicate the shutdown of its civil rights office, a move that will eliminate 75% of its staff. Some employees have already opted for the deferred resignation program, while others will be absorbed into different divisions. This comes on the heels of thousands of other IRS employees and auditors being let go, and plans to close over 110 taxpayer assistance offices. The agency is looking to cut nearly 20% of its entire workforce by mid-May. The IRS civil rights office, responsible for protecting taxpayer rights and ensuring no discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, religion, or national origin, will see its functions significantly curtailed.
These developments are unfolding against a backdrop of broader legislative maneuvering. The Senate is currently engaged in a marathon voting session, dubbed a “vote-a-rama,” where amendments are debated for hours. This process is crucial for advancing legislation tied to the administration's agenda, which includes significant changes to immigration enforcement, tax code overhauls, spending cuts, and increased energy drilling. Separately, a House Republican is set to introduce a bill aimed at restoring Congress's authority over tariffs, mirroring bipartisan efforts in the Senate. It's a complex web of policy shifts and agency adjustments, all happening concurrently.
