In a dramatic shake-up, the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has reportedly extended buyout offers to its entire workforce, a move insiders suggest is designed to reshape the agency in alignment with President Donald Trump’s vision.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, cited by Fox News, the CIA stands out as the first federal agency to permit all employees to voluntarily resign in exchange for eight months’ worth of pay and benefits.
The move follows a broader initiative by the Trump administration, which last month extended buyout offers to approximately 2 million federal workers, with payments scheduled through September. However, employees in national security roles were largely excluded until now.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe was reportedly instrumental in lobbying for the agency’s inclusion, urging the White House to grant CIA personnel the same opportunity.
An aide revealed to The Wall Street Journal that Ratcliffe believed this move would foster “a more aggressive” intelligence agency, aligned with the administration’s strategic priorities.
Despite the CIA’s initial exemption, Fox News reports that Ratcliffe personally intervened, contacting the Office of Personnel Management on Thursday to initiate the process. This would allow the agency to formally notify its workforce and extend the buyout opportunity.
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In addition to voluntary departures, Ratcliffe also introduced an early retirement option for long-serving officers. Meanwhile, hiring freezes have been imposed on individuals recruited late in President Joe Biden’s administration an effort to ensure that all incoming officers align with Trump-era directives.
This unprecedented restructuring signals a major shift within the CIA, raising questions about the future of the agency under Trump’s leadership.