[The Hill] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has kicked off its buyout program to reduce staffs numbers, according to an internal memo reported by Reuters on Thursday.The EPA memo was sent to all agency employees as President Trump, joined at the White House by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate change accord.
The EPA plans to submit the buyout proposal to the White House's Office of Management and Budget for approval in June and work to "expedite the review process," Reuters reported. The EPA has said it aims to complete the buyout program by the end of the fiscal year in September.
"Early outs and buy outs...can help us realign our workforce to meet changing mission requirements and move toward new models of work," reads the memo sent by acting Deputy Administrator Mike Flynn, Reuters reported.