The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is offering eligible employees a $50,000 incentive to resign or retire by April 4, according to an email reviewed by Bloomberg.
The message, sent Friday by SEC Chief Operating Officer Ken Johnson to all staff, comes as the Trump administration seeks to slash the size of the federal government and fire thousands of workers.
The offer is a voluntary separation incentive or voluntary early retirement program, according to the email. The deadline to apply is March 21.
Eligible employees must have been on the agency’s payroll before Jan. 24.
They must voluntarily leave through resignation, transfer to another agency or immediate retirement.
If they accept a voluntary separation agreement and return to the SEC within five years, they must pay back the incentive in full, the guidance states.
An SEC spokesperson declined to comment.
The agency last week instructed all staff, including the unionized workforce, to return to the office starting April 14.
(Credit: ALM)
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