"U.S. EPA is preparing buyouts for hundreds of employees in its regional offices, as part of an effort to pare its workforce in the face of budget constraints."
"The buyouts and "early-outs" are scheduled to occur over the next few months, with each office submitting plans to the Office of Personnel Management for approval. Under the former, employees would get a lump sum of $25,000 to leave; the latter allows certain employees to retire early and immediately receive annuity payments.
Overall, EPA officials hope to restructure the workforce, clearing out some higher-paid positions to make way for more entry-level employees who they say better fit the agency's needs. But not all employees would be replaced, leading to a smaller workforce."
Emily Yehle reports for Greenwire January 30, 2014.
