"American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government employees, and therefore deserve employees working on their behalf who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The buyout news broke on the heels of President Trump announcing a pause in federal grants and loans, affecting several federal initiatives run by local government and non-profits.

Unsurprisingly, Trump’s call for a return to office has been met with resistance from federal employees and unions.