The Environmental Protection Agency plans to offer some employees a buyout program to facilitate reducing staff according to an internal memo that was recently obtained by Reuters.
The memo was sent internally to agency staff by deputy EPA administrator Mike Flynn. It said the agency wants to complete the buyout program by September, but did not provide specific dollar amounts or information as to how many employees the agency hoped would accept the offer.
The memo also noted that the Office of Management and Budget must approve the buyout plan.
The memo on the buyout program follows news about a memo the EPA issued last month in which it said it was setting aside $12 million for buyouts and early outs in the near future to cut the agency’s workforce.
The EPA is facing a potential 31% budget cut and elimination of over 3,000 employees based on the White House’s 2018 budget proposal. Past reports have said the agency could see workforce cuts as high as 50%.
