The US government is facing a major workforce loss as about 154,000 federal employees are leaving their jobs this week after accepting buyout offers.
The situation is seen as the largest wave of departures in the modern history of the US civil service after 80 years.
Administration experts and unions warn that the move will not only reduce the number of employees, but also lead to a loss of much-needed expertise and experience.
The National Weather Service was reportedly hit when nearly 200 technicians and meteorologists chose to walk out.
The situation raised concerns about the agency's ability to maintain vital equipment and provide accurate weather forecasts to the public.
At NASA, thousands of engineers and aeronautical scientists took advantage of the offer, leaving behind a huge challenge to keep space projects running smoothly.
Major health agencies such as the CDC and the FDA have also lost staff, causing several research projects to be postponed.
The policy, introduced by President Donald Trump, aims to shrink the size of the civil service through compensation offers and the threat of layoffs.
The government aims to reduce the number of federal employees by nearly 300,000 by the end of this year, which is about 12.5% of the total since January.
The move is expected to save the government $28 billion a year.
However, the national labor market is not expected to be affected because federal workers only represent less than 1.5% of the total workforce in America.
However, the impact is still felt within the government itself, with many agencies now operating at limited capacity and at risk of failing to fully perform their duties.
