CIA offers buyouts to entire workforce to align with Trump priorities, sources say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The US spy agency is also freezing the hiring of job applicants already given a conditional offer.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LANGLEY - The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) offered buyouts to its entire workforce on Feb 4, citing an aim to bring the agency in line with US President Donald Trump’s priorities, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
A CIA spokesperson said in a statement that the moves were meant to align the agency with the goals of new CIA director John Ratcliffe.
“Director Ratcliffe is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the administration’s national security priorities. These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the agency with renewed energy,” said the spokesperson.
The agency does not disclose its budget or the number of people it employs. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
The report of buyout offers is in line with a massive makeover of the US government embarked on by the Trump administration, which has fired and sidelined hundreds of civil servants
The White House last week offered two million civilian federal workers an opportunity to stop working this week and receive pay and benefits through Sept 30 as Mr Trump seeks to slash the size of the government.
Earlier on Feb 4, unions representing US government employees filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s plan to offer buyouts to federal workers.
Mr Ratcliffe, a former member of the House of Representatives who served as director of national intelligence during the President’s first term, was confirmed by the US Senate as director of CIA days after Mr Trump took office for his second term. REUTERS
