Federal agencies roll out second wave of buyout offers reports Axios

A fresh round of buyout offers is being extended to federal workers across several agencies including Transportation, GSA, HUD, USDA, and Energy, as federal leadership looks to streamline operations and cut costs, according to a roundup by Axios. This “Deferred Resignation Program 2.0” follows an earlier round of buyouts that many employees were hesitant to accept amid turbulent times.

The new offers come in the wake of significant workforce reductions and reorganization efforts triggered by canceled contracts and broader federal budget cuts. In a recent email, the USDA outlined details for its new program, giving employees until 8 April 2025 to decide whether to opt in. Those who accept will remain on the payroll until 30 September 2025 and will be exempt from both in-person and remote work. Similar offers have been confirmed by Transportation, GSA, and HUD, where officials emphasize that the moves are part of efforts to eliminate unnecessary management layers and improve efficiency.

A spokesperson from the DOT remarked, “We’re providing employees a second chance to voluntarily leave as part of our effort to make DOT more efficient and accountable to the taxpayer.”

This second round of buyouts comes after roughly 75,000 federal workers accepted the first offer under the Trump administration—a move that was mired in controversy and legal challenges. However, this time, employees appear more receptive, likely driven by recent layoffs, forced resignations, and ongoing court battles over job security.