Donald Trump has begun his purge of government agencies that he believes are a major drain on the US resources. In this regard now the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has became the first major national security agency to offer buyouts to its entire workforce, it was reported. The move is part of US President Donald Trump’s broad effort to shrink the federal government, which he had championed as one of his major poll promises.
The buyout offer tells US federal employees that they can quit their jobs and receive roughly eight months of pay and benefits. CIA Director John Ratcliffe decided he also wanted the CIA to be involved, CNN reported citing sources in the know. John Ratcliffe is hoping to “ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administration’s national security priorities and this is part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy”, as per the report.
The Trump administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid programs has sent shockwaves through the vast aid industry. His efforts to put a complete curb on the USAID has also become a huge discussion point in global circles. For years, billions of US taxpayer dollars have flowed into programs that have supported Islamist as well as many other terror organizations, both domestically and abroad. The U.S. government has, in effect, become one of the largest financiers of global insurgents groups that have sought to overthrow the local governments, with its own parallel networks looking to run global geopolitics.
Violent extremist groups, in particular, have been the major beneficiaries of these programs. The State Department and USAID have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorist organizations and their affiliates. Bureaucrats, paid humanitarian workers, and terror-linked operatives have all played a symbiotic role in creating and sustaining this system.
Although, it remains unclear whether all CIA staff will be allowed to take the offer as some specific occupations and areas of expertise appear likely to be restricted. The offer also includes a caveat for the CIA Director who can choose to retain flexibility to work through the timing of officer departures in critical areas, the report added.
This comes as the Office of Personnel Management issued an internal guidance last week that some officers at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence may be able to participate in the program.
Donald Trump has claimed at different points that intelligence officers at the CIA have been part of a “deep state” determined to undermine him. The Donald Trump administration is also planning widespread layoffs among the federal workforce soon, leaving employees across the government who don’t accept the deferred resignation offer at risk of losing their jobs.