Business
Trump Admin reports 75K federal workers have accepted buyout offer
Quick Hit:
The Trump administration confirmed that 75,000 federal employees have accepted its Deferred Resignation Program, a buyout offer allowing them to retain benefits and receive pay through September.
Key Details:
- The Trump administration announced that approximately 75,000 federal employees have accepted its buyout offer.
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed the number, which accounts for less than 5% of the federal workforce of 2.3 million.
- The program, which provides extended benefits and pay through September, excluded military personnel, national security, immigration, and postal workers.
Diving Deeper:
The White House confirmed Wednesday night that around 75,000 federal employees opted into the Trump administration’s Deferred Resignation Program, a buyout initiative designed to reduce government workforce numbers while providing extended benefits for those who voluntarily resign.
The program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), originally set a February 6 deadline but was temporarily paused due to legal challenges from federal employee unions. However, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the unions lacked the legal standing to block the initiative, allowing the buyout deadline to proceed.
“As of 7:00 PM tonight, the program is now closed,” OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover said in a statement. “There is no longer any doubt: the Deferred Resignation Program was both legal and a valuable option for federal employees. This program was carefully designed, thoroughly vetted, and provides generous benefits so federal workers can plan for their futures.”
While the 75,000 participants represent less than 5% of the federal workforce, the move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to streamline government operations and reduce bureaucratic redundancy. The program was not open to military personnel, national security workers, immigration officers, or postal employees.
Despite initial resistance from federal employee unions, the White House and OPM argue that the program provides financial security and flexibility for those choosing to leave their positions. With the legal battle now settled, the administration considers the initiative a success in its push for a leaner and more efficient federal government.
News release from the Alberta UCP
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Alberta’s strong relationship with the U.S. is built on energy, trade, and jobs. These numbers highlight just how vital Alberta is to the U.S. economy—and why standing up for our energy sector matters now more than ever.
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Alberta’s unmatched energy contributions supply over half of U.S. imported oil through a vast pipeline network—enough to circle the Earth 11 times. This is why protecting Alberta’s energy industry matters for North America’s prosperity.
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Alberta’s energy exports fuel U.S. refineries across key states, creating over 25,000 jobs and turning billions of dollars’ worth of Alberta oil into essential products Americans rely on every day.
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This snapshot of top U.S. exports to Canada highlights how vital our trade relationship is, with Alberta playing a key role as a major partner and market for American goods.
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Energy leads U.S. imports from Canada, with Alberta’s resources powering industries across America and reinforcing our critical economic partnership.
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This chart highlights how much Canadians buy from the U.S. compared to what Americans buy from Canada, with Canadians spending over seven times more per person on U.S. goods. Meanwhile, 904,000 American jobs depend on trade with Alberta, making our province a key economic partner.
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By Carson Binda
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is reminding Canadians to stock up on books, beer and baby clothes before the federal government’s GST/HST holiday ends on Feb. 15.
“Even though this temporary tax holiday was a political gimmick, folks should still stock up now to save on the GST,” said Carson Binda, CTF B.C. Director. “Ottawa needs to do more than temporary sales tax holidays, which means politicians must find real savings so taxes can go down permanently.
“But in the meantime, people should take advantage of the tax break before it goes back up.”
The federal government temporarily suspended its sales taxes on a range of goods between Dec. 14, 2024, and Feb. 15, 2025. The temporary tax cut applied to food, alcohol beverages, restaurant meals, children’s clothing, car seats, diapers, toys, Christmas trees and books.
“The government shouldn’t be taxing your baby’s diapers or picture-books,” Binda said. “And restaurants across Canada need long-term tax relief instead of a GST holiday gimmick.”
Nearly two thirds of Canadian restaurants, or 62 per cent, are operating at a loss or barely breaking even, according to data from Restaurants Canada.
The reimposed GST will add five per cent to the cost of restaurant meals in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Territories and Quebec. The HST will add 13 per cent in Ontario and 15 per cent in the Atlantic provinces.
The end of the GST holiday would drive up the cost of a case of beer by an average of $4.40 across Canada. Provinces with a harmonized sales tax will see the biggest increases, with a case of beer increasing in cost by $8.04 in Nova Scotia once the sales tax holiday ends.
“Taxpayers and job creators need tax relief from Ottawa,” Binda said. “The government needs to go line-by-line through the federal budget to find real savings for taxpayers.”
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