"7,500 Interior Workers Took Trump Buyouts Or Early Retirement"

"The department lost more than 1,000 workers each from the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, and Fish and Wildlife Service." 

"The Interior Department has shed nearly 11 percent of its staff during the Trump administration, a reduction of nearly 7,500 employees who took buyout offers or early retirement in the past five months, according to data obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.

Responding to a Freedom of Information Act request, Interior revealed that the department has lost more than 1,000 staffers each from the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Reclamation in recent months.

The data does not specify which programs individuals opted into, but includes employees who separated from Interior since Jan. 20 through either round of the “deferred resignation program” that pays staffers to go on administrative leave through September, early retirement or a voluntary separation incentive payment."

Jennifer Yachnin reports for E&E News June 17, 2025.

Source: E&E News, 06/18/2025