100,000 Federal Workers Walk Away? The Truth Behind the Trump-Era “Mass Resignation

Shalena
Sep 30
3 min read

When news broke that over 100,000 federal workers were resigning on September 30, 2025, the internet went wild. Screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) claimed government employees staged a massive walk-off in protest of President Trump. Memes and hot takes painted it as the biggest workplace rebellion in U.S. history. But is that really what went down?

Let’s set the record straight.

The Headlines vs. The Receipts

The Guardian called it “the largest mass resignation in U.S. history” — but not in the way people online are spinning it. This wasn’t 100,000 workers storming out of their offices with cardboard boxes yelling “I quit Trump!”.

Instead, it was the culmination of a pre-arranged “deferred resignation program” that the Trump administration rolled out months ago.

Reuters reported that 154,000 federal employees were formally separated at the end of September.
The Guardian confirmed that 200,000 workers were offered a deal: take your full pay and benefits while on administrative leave, then officially resign at the fiscal year’s end (September 30).
The cost? A $14.8 billion payout, mostly from salaries and benefits still being covered during the waiting period.

So yes, thousands left government service on September 30. But this wasn’t a spontaneous protest — it was baked into a costly buyout program designed to shrink the federal workforce.

Trump’s Plan: Smaller Government, Big Payouts

This wasn’t a one-off. It’s part of a much bigger vision.

The Trump White House set a goal to reduce the 2.4 million federal workforce by 275,000 positions.
Tools included buyouts, attrition, firings, and deferred resignations.
Agencies were told to cut “non-essential” staff, while unions like AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) quickly filed lawsuits challenging the program’s legality.

This means what we saw on Sept. 30 is just one wave in a broader push to “drain the swamp” by downsizing Washington.

Why the Confusion?

Online chatter twisted the story into something it wasn’t.

A viral screenshot from @alexthechick on X claimed the resignations were “due to Trump.” But what was missing is the nuance: many of these workers had already been gone for months — they were just officially taken off payroll on Sept. 30.
In reality, this “resignation” date was a paperwork deadline — not an act of defiance.

That’s why headlines can be misleading. On the surface, it sounds like mass rebellion. In practice? It’s bureaucracy, budget cuts, and a $14.8B tab.

The Fallout: Brain Drain or Budget Win?

Critics warn the government is losing decades of institutional knowledge in one sweep.

Reuters described it as a “brain drain” — skilled staff leaving without being replaced.
Agencies like the Department of Defense and IRS will feel the hit hardest, especially since many of the employees who took buyouts were senior career officials.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration touts it as proof of “efficiency” and “leaner government.”

But the math is tricky: while the program cuts long-term payroll obligations, it costs billions upfront. The question becomes — will taxpayers actually save in the long run, or is this a political statement disguised as a budget move?

The Tea: What You Should Really Take Away

Yes, over 100,000 federal workers exited Sept. 30, 2025. But it was part of a planned deferred resignation program, not an overnight revolt.
Yes, it cost $14.8 billion. Taxpayers are footing that bill.
Yes, Trump is cutting deep. The target is 275,000 fewer workers across federal agencies.
And yes, unions are fighting back. Lawsuits could stall or reshape the program, especially if courts rule the deferred pay packages unlawful.

So while the headlines scream “historic walkout,” the truth is more complicated: it’s bureaucracy, not rebellion.

Sources

👉 Bestie, do you want me to also spin a headline + social caption pack (Twitter/Instagram style) so you can promote this fact-check post and drive clicks back to your blog?