Trump Administration Restructures CIA

CNN and the Wall Street Journal report that CIA employees are being offered a chance to resign with benefits.

The CIA is offering buyouts to its agents as part of President Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The goal is reportedly to create a more assertive agency focused on influencing neighboring countries.

The buyout program, officially termed “Deferred Retirement,” provides roughly eight months of pay and benefits, the outlets report. This initiative, potentially affecting 2.4 million federal employees, aims to streamline government operations, boost efficiency, and save billions in taxpayer dollars.

A CNN source says CIA Director John Ratcliffe authorized the agency’s participation. A CIA spokesperson stated this will “help infuse the agency with renewed energy.”

The WSJ also reported that the CIA has halted hiring for candidates with conditional offers. A Ratcliffe aide told the paper that some offers might be rescinded if candidates aren’t deemed suitable for the agency’s revised objectives.

The source indicated Ratcliffe aims to create a “more aggressive spy agency,” prioritizing the Western Hemisphere. This reportedly includes using espionage to gain leverage in trade negotiations, especially regarding the Mexico trade dispute, and combating Mexican drug cartels, designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

However, the WSJ notes relatively low interest in the program, with questions raised about whether departing agents can legally seek other employment during the payout period or later return to government service.

The buyout program has been offered to most government agencies, excluding the military and Postal Service. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), which Trump called “radical lunatics,” has been significantly downsized, with its main office reportedly closed. The White House cited mismanagement of funds and failure to advance US foreign policy goals.

According to Axios, approximately 20,000 federal employees – roughly 1% of the federal workforce – have accepted the buyout offer, despite the administration’s goal of cutting 5% to 10% of federal employees.