The administration of US President Donald Trump has notified federal workers that it is offering financial incentives if they quit as part of a reform of the federal workforce. It urged them to decide by February 6.

The US Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday released an email it sent to federal employees. It said "the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments and reductions in force."

The email said those who resign under the program will retain all pay and benefits until September 30 regardless of their daily workload.

The email also said the majority of those who have been working remotely since the coronavirus pandemic will be required to return to their offices five days a week.
It added that federal employees should be reliable, loyal and trustworthy.

The American Federation of Government Employees labor union said in a statement that it is clear the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to. In a social media post, it urged all workers not to make a hasty decision to resign.

The Associated Press called the program "an unprecedented move to shrink the US government at breakneck speed."

It said the federal government employs more than 3 million people and "even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shockwaves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole."