CIA Offers Employees to Resign with 8 Months of Pay – WSJ

Trump continues to work on cutting back federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency.

The CIA is the first intelligence agency to offer its employees the chance to leave their jobs and receive compensation, including about eight months of pay and benefits, as part of US President Donald Trump’s push to shrink the federal government.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has offered a severance program to its entire staff, in what officials say is an effort to align the agency with President Trump’s priorities, including fighting drug cartels, The Wall Street Journal reports .

The agency is also freezing hiring of new employees who have already been given preliminary offers, said CIA Assistant Director John Ratcliffe. Some offers may be withdrawn if candidates do not have the expertise needed to handle the agency’s new missions, including those related to Trump’s trade war and countering China.

The media writes that interest in the early dismissal program among government employees was low. Many are unsure whether they will be able to find another job during the period of receiving payments or return to government service if the administration changes.

“I don’t see any legitimate basis for the president to make this offer,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., adding that no constituents have told him they intend to take up the offer.

Trump administration officials said the proposal also sent a signal to employees who did not support his policies that they should look for other jobs. Ratcliffe, at his confirmation hearing, promised to step up intelligence operations and covert missions, citing drug cartels and China as key adversaries.

“To the brave CIA officers around the world: If this sounds like what you joined the service for, then buckle up and get ready to change the world. If not, it’s time to look for another job,” he said.

(C)UNIAN 2025