Tens of thousands of US civil servants have resigned following continued pressure from President Donald Trump's administration and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Although there have been no mass layoffs as promised, intimidation strategies, early retirement offers and severance payments have forced an estimated 260,000 workers to leave the public sector by the end of September. Most of them claim that daily stress and uncertainty about their career future are the main reasons for their resignation.
The Trump administration has previously announced its intention to drastically overhaul the government structure to reduce the size and cost of administration. Among the agencies that will be affected are the Departments of Health and Human Services, which are expected to lose tens of thousands of jobs. Although no full official data has been released, the White House confirmed that 75,000 workers have accepted the first severance pay offer, with many more following the second offer.
Labor unions denounce the approach as a form of "subtle coercion" that targets workers through psychological pressure. AFGE President Everett Kelley has described the administration’s policies as a form of systematic harassment of public servants. Controversial measures include Elon Musk’s demand that employees list five accomplishments a week and being forced to take on tasks outside their expertise. Many employees also claim to have received warning emails that included offers of exit along with threats of dismissal.
A federal court in California recently intervened, temporarily blocking layoffs at more than 20 agencies and ordering laid-off workers to be reinstated. The Trump administration is appealing the decision. Analysts warn that if the legal restrictions are lifted, a larger wave of layoffs could follow.
