Tens of thousands of U.S. federal workers accepted a buyout offer as the Trump administration pushes to shrink the 2.3 million-strong workforce. Some were nearing retirement, while others felt pressured by job cuts and return-to-office mandates.
A ‘Unicorn Job’ Lost
Jourdain Solis, 27, of Fresno, CA, loved his IRS job auditing fuel tax compliance. With his program set for elimination, he accepted the buyout, hoping to land a state or private-sector job. Meanwhile, he plans to travel.
Retirement Came Early
Kurt Floyd, 62, of Arlington, TX, was already planning to retire after 39 years, including military tours in Afghanistan. The buyout lets him enjoy several months off before settling into retirement with his family.
A Hard Choice for a Single Mom
Jennifer Mercer, 46, of Hollywood, MD, struggled with her decision. A single mother, she couldn’t manage both school drop-offs and a five-day office mandate. Unsure of her job security, she took the offer but was still awaiting final confirmation.
Committed but Forced Out
Ken Brown, 63, of Lafayette, IN, worked in healthcare services for the uninsured. He commuted to D.C. twice a month, but going in daily wasn’t feasible. Though he loved his work, the buyout was his only option.
Missed Deadline, Uncertain Future
Constantine Kiriakou, 37, of Virginia Beach, intended to accept but missed the deadline. His wife already lost her job due to cuts, and moving back to D.C. is financially impossible. He fears layoffs and is now cutting costs to stay afloat.
Each worker’s decision was unique, but all faced difficult trade-offs as the administration reshapes the federal workforce.
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