Leavitt on buyouts: fed workers have to return to work or resign with 8 months pay

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller took questions covering federal worker buyouts, El Salvador cooperation on migration, and Europe-style deportation policies. On federal worker buyouts, Leavitt rejected the union characterization of a “purge” as “absolutely false” — framing the program as a suggestion to return to work with resignation option including eight months pay. Leavitt cited the statistic: “Six percent of the federal workforce in this city actually shows up to work. That’s unacceptable.” She contrasted federal workers with “law enforcement officers and teachers and nurses across the country who showed up to the office today.” On office space costs, Leavitt said the return would save tens of millions by ending waste on empty office space. On El Salvador, Miller previewed Secretary Rubio’s visit the following week and praised President Nayib Bukele’s “tremendous degrees of cooperation with the United States on all things migration.” Miller said: “It is our full expectation that Maduro will accept all flights of TDA gang members back to Venezuela.” Asked whether Europe should adopt Trump’s immigration approach, Miller answered “Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely.” Miller’s policy framework: “You have to establish a policy that says that anyone who crosses the border is going to be immediately repatriated.” On Latin America, Miller noted “incredibly productive conversations” led by Secretary Rubio.

Buyout Framework Question

“One question about these buyouts, you’ve been describing it, is this effort to get folks to return to work. The union that represents federal workers, though, says this isn’t a voluntary buyout. They say this is a purge of people that don’t agree with the president. What’s your response?”

The reporter framework:

• Union criticism
• Purge allegation
• Disagreement-based
• Coerced resignation
• Political framework

The federal workers union:

• American Federation of Government Employees
• Various unions
• Legal challenges framework
• Political opposition
• Member mobilization

“That’s absolutely false.”

Leavitt’s direct response — categorical denial of purge framework.

Return to Work Suggestion

“This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. And if they don’t, then they have the option to resign. And this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Return to work required
• Option to resign alternative
• Eight months pay generous
• Administration generosity
• Choice framework

The buyout structure:

• Deferred resignation program
• September 2026 end date
• Paid leave period
• Accumulated benefits
• Voluntary departure

The alternative:

• Return to office
• Comply with policy
• Continue federal service
• Resume normal duties
• Regular employment

6% Actually Show Up

“Six percent of the federal workforce in this city actually shows up to work. That’s unacceptable.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• 6% attendance DC
• Federal workforce
• Actually shows up
• Unacceptable framework
• Policy framework

The telework context:

• Post-COVID telework expanded
• Federal workers predominantly remote
• Various agency policies
• DC office vacancy
• Building utilization low

The 6% figure:

• Rough framework
• Various studies cited
• Different measurements
• General pattern clear
• Public frustration

All Here at Work

“We’re all here at work at the office. There are law enforcement officers and teachers and nurses across the country who showed up to the office today. People in this city need to do the same.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• White House staff in office
• Law enforcement in office
• Teachers in classroom
• Nurses at hospitals
• Federal workers should match

The contrast framework:

• Private sector workers reporting
• Essential workers reporting
• Federal bureaucrats remote
• Disconnect framework
• Fairness issue

“It’s an overwhelmingly popular policy with people outside of Washington, D.C. President campaigned on this and his administration’s keeping the promise.”

The political framework:

• Outside DC popular
• Campaign promise
• Promise keeping
• Public support
• Rural/suburban framework

Office Space Cost

“How much more is it going to cost because a lot of the space has now been given away, leases have expired, new purchases need to take place? What will it cost to bring all those workers back to create the new offices they need?”

The reporter framework:

• Office space reduced
• Leases expired
• Purchases needed
• Bring back costs
• Practical challenges

Tens of Millions Savings

“It’s going to save tens of millions of dollars because this government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Tens of millions savings
• Empty office waste
• Current spending
• Future savings
• Fiscal framework

The federal office space:

• GSA manages
• Billions annually
• Various buildings
• Lease portfolio
• Underutilization documented

“That is beautiful. I mean, look at the buildings in this city. They’re gorgeous. They’ve been here for decades. And the American people are paying for them. And so we’re going to make good use of the office space in this city by having these federal workers return to work.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Buildings beautiful
• Decades of construction
• Taxpayer funded
• Good use framework
• Workers return

Plan Not Purge

“I would also add that the order simply directs federal agencies to come up with a return to work plan. And so this isn’t a purge and this isn’t forcing every single individual in Washington, D.C. to return to work only if they are able and of course within the law.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Plan required
• Agencies develop
• Not universal force
• Legal framework
• Flexibility allowed

The executive order structure:

• High-level directive
• Agency implementation
• Legal requirements
• Accommodation framework
• Gradual rollout

El Salvador Question

“I’m not getting a question. I’m talking about El Salvador so we know that the president spoke to President Bukele next week. Secretary Rubio will be in El Salvador. Should we be expecting El Salvador to take the train to Aragua, Venezuela as an agreement between the two countries?”

The reporter framework:

• Trump-Bukele call
• Rubio visit coming
• Tren de Aragua
• Venezuela agreement
• Bilateral framework

Nayib Bukele:

• El Salvador President
• Strong anti-gang stance
• CECOT mega-prison
• Trump ally
• Cooperative framework

Bukele Cooperation

“All I want to say on this because I don’t want to get ahead of sensitive reviews is that the president Bukele has graciously offered tremendous degrees of cooperation with the United States on all things migration. And we’re hoping that will provide a framework for migration cooperation all throughout the region.”

Miller’s framework:

• Sensitive reviews respect
• Bukele cooperation generous
• All things migration
• Regional framework
• Expansion template

“And I think it’s very clear that President Bukele is going to be a very great and strong partner for this administration and for the United States.”

Miller’s framework:

• Great partner
• Strong partnership
• Trump administration focus
• US broader framework
• Reliable ally

Maduro Expectations

“And how does that mean getting Venezuela into El Salvador? Because I mean right now we don’t have relationships with Venezuela.”

The reporter framework:

• Venezuela-US no relations
• El Salvador framework
• Third-party deportation
• Logistics challenge
• Policy question

“It is our full expectation that Maduro will accept all flights of TDA gang members back to Venezuela.”

Miller’s framework:

• Full expectation
• Maduro accept
• All flights
• TDA gang members
• Venezuela framework

The Venezuela framework:

• Rick Grenell dispatched
• Repatriation negotiations
• Maduro government engagement
• Tren de Aragua focus
• Direct diplomacy

Europe Question

“Is the Trump immigration method applicable to Europe? Europe has a huge immigration problem. Is that method of deportation, repatriation applicable to the continent of Europe?”

The reporter framework:

• Europe immigration crisis
• Trump method
• Deportation policy
• Repatriation framework
• Export-ability

The European migration crisis:

• Millions of migrants
• Political crisis various countries
• Far-right surge
• Policy debate
• Reform calls

Absolutely Yes

“If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking should Europe consider mirroring our own policies? Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes.”

Miller’s framework:

• Question confirmed
• Absolutely yes (multiple)
• Strong endorsement
• Policy export framework
• Confidence signal

“Well I mean it’s simple. I mean you have to establish a policy that says that anyone who crosses the border is going to be immediately repatriated.”

Miller’s framework:

• Simple framework
• Border crosser policy
• Immediate repatriation
• Clear rule
• No ambiguity

Suspended Refugee Resettlement

“That anyone in the country legally is subject to revolt of course prioritizing public safety and national security. As well as as we’ve done is a general matter, suspending refugee resettlement which of course poses enormous burdens on local communities and populations.”

Miller’s framework:

• Legal status review
• Public safety priority
• National security priority
• Refugee suspension
• Local burden framework

The refugee suspension:

• Trump executive order
• USRAP paused
• 120 days minimum
• Review period
• Burden framework

Brazil Deeply Engaged

“Just on the terror administration with countries from South America, Brazil for example.”

The reporter framework:

• South America specific
• Brazil specifically
• Deportation engagement
• Bilateral framework

“Oh deeply engaged.”

Miller’s framework:

• Deeply engaged
• Brazil specifically
• Active diplomacy
• Productive framework
• Ongoing framework

The Brazil framework:

• Lula government
• Ideologically opposed to Trump
• Brazilian citizens deported
• Various flights
• Framework established

Countries Worldwide

“It’s the President’s expectation that countries all across the world participate fully in the enforcement of immigration laws and in particular in the repatriation of their own citizens. This is a basic international obligation.”

Miller’s framework:

• Worldwide expectation
• Full participation
• Immigration law enforcement
• Own citizen repatriation
• Basic international obligation

The international law framework:

• Non-refoulement principle
• Citizen repatriation obligation
• Diplomatic norms
• Various treaties
• Customary law

Rubio Productive

“We’ve had incredibly productive conversations with frankly nations all across Latin America led by Secretary of State Rubio, who I may say is an absolutely fabulous job.”

Miller’s framework:

• Latin America productive
• Secretary Rubio leading
• Fabulous job
• Regional framework
• Results-oriented

Secretary Rubio:

• Cuban-American background
• Latin America fluency
• Spanish language
• Regional expertise
• Senior diplomat

Buyout Program Context

The federal workforce buyout:

Program elements:

• Deferred resignation offer
• Paid leave September 2026
• Various protections retained
• Voluntary participation
• Workforce reduction

Participation:

• ~65,000 workers initially
• Growing numbers
• Agency-specific patterns
• Management encouraged
• Worker decision

Legal challenges:

• AFGE lawsuits
• Various unions
• Federal court
• Injunction attempts
• Ongoing framework

Migration Cooperation Framework

The regional migration framework:

El Salvador:

• Bukele cooperation
• CECOT potential use
• Tren de Aragua detention
• Broader agreement framework
• Regional template

Other Latin America:

• Guatemala cooperation
• Honduras acceptance
• Mexico pressure
• Colombia negotiations
• Panama engagement

Venezuela specific:

• Rick Grenell dispatched
• Maduro engagement
• Flight arrangements
• Tren de Aragua priority
• US detainees

Europe Framework

The European immigration context:

Current policies:

• Asylum-based framework
• NGO-assisted migration
• Open border (Schengen)
• Various national policies
• Political crisis

Trump method elements:

• Border control
• Immediate repatriation
• Refugee suspension
• Legal review
• Enforcement priority

Export potential:

• Various parties advocating
• Political winds changing
• Meloni (Italy) adopting elements
• Various national shifts
• Framework traveling

Significance

The briefing captured:

1. Buyouts not purge: 8 months pay, voluntary
2. 6% attendance statistic: DC workforce problem
3. Office space savings: Tens of millions
4. El Salvador cooperation: Bukele framework
5. Venezuela expectations: Maduro accept all flights
6. Europe export: Trump method absolutely applicable

The buyout framework represented major federal workforce policy. Voluntary framework with significant compensation — not purge but restructuring.

The 6% attendance statistic captured DC dysfunction. Federal workforce remote/absent while private sector workers report — fairness framework strong politically.

The regional migration framework demonstrated coordinated approach. El Salvador template, Venezuela pressure, Brazil engagement — comprehensive regional strategy.

Miller’s “absolutely” on Europe mirroring Trump method signaled ideological export intent. The Trump approach as global model for immigration challenge — framework traveling.

Key Takeaways

• Leavitt on buyouts: “This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. And if they don’t, then they have the option to resign. And this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months. Six percent of the federal workforce in this city actually shows up to work. That’s unacceptable.”
• Leavitt on office space: “It’s going to save tens of millions of dollars because this government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space. Look at the buildings in this city. They’re gorgeous. They’ve been here for decades. And the American people are paying for them. And so we’re going to make good use of the office space.”
• Miller on Bukele: “President Bukele has graciously offered tremendous degrees of cooperation with the United States on all things migration. And we’re hoping that will provide a framework for migration cooperation all throughout the region. It is our full expectation that Maduro will accept all flights of TDA gang members back to Venezuela.”
• Miller on Europe: “If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking should Europe consider mirroring our own policies? Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. You have to establish a policy that says that anyone who crosses the border is going to be immediately repatriated.”
• Miller on international obligation: “It’s the President’s expectation that countries all across the world participate fully in the enforcement of immigration laws and in particular in the repatriation of their own citizens. This is a basic international obligation.”