Speaking at a department town hall on May 2, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Department of Transportation will carry out a reduction in force (RIF) at the end of May, part of the Trump administration’s broader directive to reduce the federal workforce.
The extent of the layoffs depends on how many employees accept the department’s Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), which allows participants to receive pay and benefits through September 30 in exchange for voluntarily resigning. The second round of the DRP closed in early April, but employees aged 40 and older have until May 22 to decide, in accordance with anti-age discrimination guidelines recommended by the Office of Personnel Management.
According to audio obtained by Government Executive, Duffy asserted, “The DRP will end. We’ll look at the numbers. We’re going to do the RIF. We’re going to know at the end of May what that looks like. I don’t have plans after that. I can’t say we’re all done… I have faith that we can do more with less.”
Roughly 2,500 DOT employees have already signed resignation contracts and begun leave under the DRP, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration Keith Washington. A spokesperson added that up to 4,000 employees applied for the second round. The first round, which ended in February, drew about 1,100 participants. The department had just over 57,000 employees in fiscal year 2024.
Duffy reassured staff that the department would avoid the abrupt layoffs seen at other agencies. He also clarified there are no plans to relocate DOT outside the Washington, D.C., area, distinguishing it from the Agriculture Department, which is moving much of its workforce out of the capital.
Despite the focus on cost-cutting, Duffy signaled support for targeted investment, particularly in aviation safety. At a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, he said he would ask Congress to fund a new air traffic control system following the January plane collision in D.C. On Thursday, DOT announced that eligible air traffic controllers who postpone retirement will receive a 20% bonus on their base pay annually.
