Ahead of layoffs, Education Department offers employees $25K to quit or retire by Monday

WASHINGTON – Resign by Monday and receive $25,000. Perhaps.

 In a Friday afternoon email, the U.S. Department of Education's leading human resources official conveyed that message and extended the "one-time offer" to all employees in light of what she described as a "very significant" forthcoming workforce reduction.

 Jacqueline Clay, the agency's chief human capital officer, stated, "We are pleased to offer ED employees a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) of up to $25,000 starting today, including those who wish to retire."

 Staffers can accept until Monday at 11:59 p.m. The email stated that their resignations would become effective on March 31.

 However, not every employee who accepts the buyout would qualify for a $25,000 payment. Clay's memo states the award would be "the equivalent of severance pay or $25,000, whichever is less."  She urged employees to utilize their benefit statements to estimate severance packages before accepting the offer.offer.

 There are additional caveats: To be eligible, individuals must have worked for the federal government for a minimum of three consecutive years and not have received a student loan repayment benefit in the past three years. Other awards, such as relocation, recruitment, or retention bonuses, would disqualify some individuals.

 The memo represents the most recent indication of turmoil within the federal Education Department, which has already seen significant turnover since President Donald Trump assumed office. His administration has warned about significant layoffs affecting the entire federal workforce in the weeks and months ahead. Recently, the president stated that he wants the Education Department to be "closed immediately."

 For further details, DOGE announced a $881 million reduction at the Education Department. The actual savings are considerably lower.

 Linda McMahon, his appointee for department head who is expected to gain confirmation from the Senate controlled by the GOP on Monday, has recognized that only Congress can close federal agencies.