More than 20,000 US federal workers say yes to buyout

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Over 20,000 U.S. federal employees, roughly one percent of the government workforce, have signed up for an offer to quit their jobs, a source said on Tuesday. They will continue to receive their salaries through the end of September.

Late last month, the Trump administration offered financial incentives to two million civilian full-time federal workers to quit as part of plans to drastically shrink the size of the government. They have until Feb. 6 to decide if they want to take the buyout.

The administration is also implementing a hiring freeze.

The offer covers civilian employees except those in immigration, air traffic control, national security-related positions and people working for the U.S. Postal Service.

Layoffs across the federal government are likely after the buyout offer expires Thursday, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing a memo from an official at the General Services Administration.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.