Employees of the Department of the Interior are facing a crucial deadline, as they must respond by the end of Wednesday to an offer extended for buyouts or early retirement. This move is part of the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
The option for deferred resignation, addressed as a buyout, or early retirement was communicated on April 4. This came just a day after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum instructed that national parks “remain open and accessible,” with a mandate for officials to ensure adequate staffing levels.
The memo highlights plans for workforce reductions to enhance efficiency, though certain roles will be protected from layoffs since they are deemed “critical to public safety” or tied to priority programs.
Distributed to assistant secretaries and the leadership of bureaus and offices, the document outlines that the buyout and retirement offers apply across the entire department. However, not every employee is eligible to accept these terms.
Excluded from the buyout or early retirement offers are roles such as wildland firefighters, law enforcement officers, aviation positions, and those involved in cyber security. Similarly, employees of the National Park Service, particularly those with duties on-site or stationed at National Wildlife Refuge visitor centers, also remain outside the scope of these opportunities unless a senior-level written approval is given.
Kristen Brengel, who serves as the senior vice president of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, criticized these offers, suggesting they are strategies to coerce dedicated personnel to either resign or risk termination without just cause.
She commented, “The administration’s relentless attacks are crushing the Park Service. Park staff are constantly questioning whether they will be able to perform—or even keep—their jobs. Forcing another round of buyouts is yet another reckless action.”
When prompted about the potential number of employees who might accept these offers, Interior spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace declined to elaborate, stating that the department does not comment on personnel-related issues.
The Interior Department also includes entities such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Recently, similar options were proposed to employees of the Department of Homeland Security, with their offerings including a lump-sum payment that may reach up to $25,000 in specific scenarios.