Trump administration falls short of federal workforce buyout goal

• The federal workforce exceeds 2.4 million people, per the White House, excluding active-duty military and Postal Service employees.
• Certain employees were exempt from accepting buyouts, like those who work in national security, immigration enforcement, and IRS workers needed for the tax season.

Zoom in: A federal judge on Wednesday lifted a pause on the resignation program on Wednesday, and the White House subsequently closed the offer, according to an email sent to federal employees.

• The administration sent out an email saying the "buyout" offer would be over at 7:20pm ET.

Context: Workers who took the buyout are promised pay through September, but critics have argued there's no guarantee people will receive that money and that Congress needs to authorize the plan.

• The buyouts aligned with the Trump administration's goals of requiring in-office work and "adhering to higher standards."
• The administration originally said the buyouts could save up to $100 billion annually for taxpayers.

Go deeper: Trump's federal worker "buyout" program can proceed, judge rules