The Department of Homeland Security notified employees Monday evening of an impending workforce reduction across agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a DHS email obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.
The memo, titled “Reshaping the DHS Workforce,” was written by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and could significantly shrink the government’s second-largest department through incentives to retire or quit. The memo was sent to department workers at around 6:20 p.m.
“I am writing to share important news regarding new voluntary workforce transition programs approved for immediate implementation across the Department,” Noem said in the email. The buyout options “reflect our commitment to aligning our workforce with the evolving mission needs while supporting the personal and professional goals of our dedicated employees.”
The planned reductions confirm days of speculation that DHS would overhaul its staff. The department did not immediately respond to questions and a request for comment.
DHS includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection, which have been at the center of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the number of immigrants entering the U.S. from Mexico and to deport people from other countries. Noem’s memo did not appear to exempt any DHS agencies from using the buyouts to reduce staff.
For FEMA, which has about 20,000 employees and leads the national response to natural disasters, staff reductions could be part of Trump’s plans to reshape the agency and give states a greater role — and more responsibility — in responding to disasters. Noem at a televised cabinet meeting in March said, “We’re going to eliminate FEMA.”
Local and state emergency managers have been struggling to cope with the uncertainty about FEMA’s future, said Jonathan Lord, emergency management director in Flagler County, Florida, and president of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association.
“For us, it really is just not knowing what’s happening next,” Lord said in an interview Friday.
DHS employees are being offered three separation options that other federal employees have received under Trump: a cash incentive to retire early or to quit, or a deferred resignation with a brief period of paid administrative leave.
DHS employees have until April 14 to apply for the buyouts.