CIA to Undergo Significant Shake-up Under Trump, According to Reports
According to reports from CNN and the Wall Street Journal, the CIA has proposed buyouts to its agents in line with Trump's initiative to reform the government. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The CIA has initiated a buyout program for its employees as part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to reduce the size of the federal government, as reported by CNN and the Wall Street Journal. The aim of this initiative is to transform the agency into a “more aggressive” tool better equipped to exert influence on neighboring countries.
Both outlets have detailed that the buyout, termed ‘Deferred Retirement,’ will permit employees to resign with approximately eight months' worth of pay and benefits. This initiative, which could affect 2.4 million federal employees, is focused on streamlining government operations, enhancing efficiency, and generating significant savings in public expenditure.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made the decision for the agency to engage in the buyout program, according to a source from CNN. A spokesperson for the agency mentioned that this move is intended to “help infuse the agency with renewed energy.”
Additionally, the WSJ reported that the CIA has halted hiring for candidates who had previously received conditional job offers. An aide to Ratcliffe commented to the paper that some offers might be rescinded if the candidates are found not to meet the qualifications necessary for the agency's new agenda.
The source indicated that Ratcliffe aims to create a “more aggressive spy agency” with a renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere. The proposed efforts will include espionage tactics to bolster trade negotiations, particularly regarding ongoing disputes with Mexico. Moreover, the agency will prioritize efforts against Mexican drug cartels, which have been classified as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.
However, the WSJ also noted that interest in the buyout proposal has been relatively low, with uncertainties surrounding whether former agents can legally pursue other employment during the payout period or return to government positions in the future.
The buyout program has been extended to most federal agencies, excluding military and Postal Service personnel. As part of the broader restructuring, the US Agency for International Development—criticized by Trump as “radical lunatics”—has undergone significant downsizing, with reports suggesting that its main office has been closed. The White House has accused the agency of mismanagement and failing to meet US foreign policy objectives.
According to Axios, only about 20,000 federal employees, roughly 1% of the total federal workforce, have opted to participate in the buyout program, despite the administration's goal to reduce the federal employee count by 5% to 10%.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Both outlets have detailed that the buyout, termed ‘Deferred Retirement,’ will permit employees to resign with approximately eight months' worth of pay and benefits. This initiative, which could affect 2.4 million federal employees, is focused on streamlining government operations, enhancing efficiency, and generating significant savings in public expenditure.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made the decision for the agency to engage in the buyout program, according to a source from CNN. A spokesperson for the agency mentioned that this move is intended to “help infuse the agency with renewed energy.”
Additionally, the WSJ reported that the CIA has halted hiring for candidates who had previously received conditional job offers. An aide to Ratcliffe commented to the paper that some offers might be rescinded if the candidates are found not to meet the qualifications necessary for the agency's new agenda.
The source indicated that Ratcliffe aims to create a “more aggressive spy agency” with a renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere. The proposed efforts will include espionage tactics to bolster trade negotiations, particularly regarding ongoing disputes with Mexico. Moreover, the agency will prioritize efforts against Mexican drug cartels, which have been classified as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.
However, the WSJ also noted that interest in the buyout proposal has been relatively low, with uncertainties surrounding whether former agents can legally pursue other employment during the payout period or return to government positions in the future.
The buyout program has been extended to most federal agencies, excluding military and Postal Service personnel. As part of the broader restructuring, the US Agency for International Development—criticized by Trump as “radical lunatics”—has undergone significant downsizing, with reports suggesting that its main office has been closed. The White House has accused the agency of mismanagement and failing to meet US foreign policy objectives.
According to Axios, only about 20,000 federal employees, roughly 1% of the total federal workforce, have opted to participate in the buyout program, despite the administration's goal to reduce the federal employee count by 5% to 10%.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
