"The Environmental Protection Agency said this week that it would begin the process of shrinking its 15,000-employee workforce through buyouts, in the wake of President Trump’s executive order last month aimed at streamlining agencies throughout the federal government.

In a letter to regional administrators and other agency officials, EPA acting deputy administrator Mike Flynn said the White House had asked federal agencies to begin taking “immediate actions” aimed at reducing their workforce.

“In light of this guidance, we will begin the steps necessary to initiate an early out/buy out … program,” Flynn said, adding that the goal is to complete the program by the end of the fiscal year."

Brady Dennis reports for the Washington Post April 19, 2017. [2]