According to a CIA spokeswoman, the Trump administration’s most recent attempt to restructure and reduce the size of the federal government is the CIA’s offer of “buyouts” to its employees.
Similar to postponed resignation offers made to employees at other federal agencies, this offer consists of eight months of pay and benefits. However, some CIA workers, such as those in charge of high-priority duties, will not be qualified for the offer.
The spokeswoman stated that Director [John] Ratcliffe is acting quickly to guarantee that the CIA workforce responds to the Administration’s national security interests.
Ratcliffe pledged at his confirmation hearing to avoid using loyalty tests to hire or fire CIA employees and to keep politics out of intelligence-related decisions.
According to the CIA spokesman, these actions are a part of a larger plan to revitalize the Agency, give up-and-coming leaders a chance to shine, and put CIA in a better position to fulfill its goal.
Democratic legislators, federal employee groups, and attorneys have cautioned federal workers against accepting the offers, citing legal questions and the fact that Congress has not approved funding for such expansive packages.
Like at other intelligence organizations, the CIA’s employment size has traditionally been kept under wraps and under wraps.
On January 23, Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who briefly served as President Donald Trump’s national intelligence director during his first term, was confirmed as the CIA director.