The Trump administration is offering buyouts to the entire workforce of the Central Intelligence Agency in an bid to align the agency with the president’s national security policies.
In exchange for their resignation, CIA agents who accepted the buyout conditions would receive eight months of pay, along with all their benefits and entitlements and be exempt from in-person work until Sep. 30.
Last week, Trump offered nearly 2 million federal employees buyouts to be paid through September as he endeavors to cut waste and reshape federal offices nationwide. The window for federal employees to accept the offer ends on Feb. 6 under the current deadline set by officials.
Holy shit…
Trump is offering a buyout to the entire CIA workforce!
The USAID was just the beginning! First Trump cut off the money supply, now he goes for the nucleus of the cell.
The CIA is about to get purged!
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) February 5, 2025
The White House Office of Personnel Management, which operates as the federal government’s human resources department, informed federal employees on Jan. 28 that they must begin to work out of their respective offices five days a week, or leave their roles through the equivalent of a buyout offer. The deadline to accept the offer is Feb. 6.
The CIA, which does not disclose the size of its workforce or budget, and other federal workers with national security roles were initially exempt from taking advantage of the buyout. Then newly appointed CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly told the White House to extend the same offer to employees within the agency to pave the way for “a more aggressive agency.”
Ratcliffe issued a stern warning to staff during his confirmation hearing following Trump’s inauguration.
“To the brave CIA officers listening around the world, if all of that sounds like what you signed up for, then buckle up and get ready to make a difference,” he said. “If it doesn’t then it’s time to find a new line of work.”
The agency is also freezing job hiring while all conditional offers have been paused or rescinded.
A CIA spokesperson issued a statement noting the administration’s move to purge CIA staff is part of a strategy to align the agency with Trump’s agenda.
“Director Ratcliffe is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administration’s national security priorities,” the spokesperson said. “These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position the CIA to deliver on its mission.”