Posted on 09/07/2017 6:21:53 AM PDT by reaganaut1
WASHINGTON—Nearly 400 workers have left the Environmental Protection Agency in recent days, the agency said Tuesday, a wave of departures that soon could take the agency’s staffing to its lowest point in almost 30 years.
The departures come primarily from buyouts offered as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to fulfill a campaign promise of “tremendous cutting” at the EPA. His budget proposal in March suggested a 31% funding cut that would result in approximately 3,200 fewer jobs at the agency.
The voluntary buyouts were offered in June to more than 1,200 workers. Almost a third of those eligible took the buyout and, coupled with a dozen retirements on Aug. 31, the agency trimmed its staff by about 2.5% in less than a week. Several dozen more workers could retire or opt to take the buyout later this month, which would cut EPA’s total number of employees to almost 14,400 workers, the lowest since 1988. Two years ago it had more than 15,500 employees nationwide.
“We’re giving long-serving, hardworking employees the opportunity to retire early,” EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a statement. “We’re proud to report that we’re reducing the size of government, protecting taxpayer dollars and staying true to our core mission of protecting the environment and American jobs.”
Some of the agency’s critics among employee groups and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are skeptical of the agency’s ability to meet its regulatory responsibilities as it shrinks, while others question whether buyouts are an effective use of tax money.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Good news.
How much will we still be paying them every year in pension funds?
Yep.
There are pockets of the swamp being drained.
Nearly 400 workers have left the Environmental Protection Agency in recent days
Yaaay!
They say that like it’s a bad thing....
NTOWY
Depending on the number of retirees we’re paying not to work, may not be much of a cost savings.
The 2/3 that didn’t take the deal are still employed?
It’s a good start.
“...employees to almost 14,400 workers,”
WTF? Seriously needs to be 1,400 and then 140 in four years.
This is the best news in decades!....................
I’m not familiar with the details of the EPA buyout program but typically, eligible employees are offered $25,000 to leave. After taxes, that amount usually does not inspire many to take the offer. But for those with a lot of service time and who are already past the minimal retirement age, its an added incentive.
If the job is completely eliminating than it might be a savings in the long wrong.
plus, if this reduces EPA’s regulatory strangle hold.
It would be a good thing,too.
How much will we still be paying them every year in pension funds?
*************
Good question but I’d guess it is less than if they were still on full employment.
Depending upon the buy out package it could be zero.
The problem with creating agencies designed to regulate a perceived problem is, what happens to the agency’s employees when the problem has been resolved? It’s like the Japanese saying, “to a hammer the world is a nail.” People who write regulations to stay employed will continue to write regulations. Regulations cost end users money. Ordinary house paint has gone from 4-8 dollars per gallon in the early seventies to 18-45 dollars per gallon today, thanks to regulations. Now realize the cost impact of every regulated product to the consumer and you see a major inflation driver. No cost benefit analysis has been performed because the people mandating the cost aren’t paying the cost...we are. These EPA employees who are making our world more expensive and less accessible will retire with wonderful pensions and benefits denied most of the little people who pay the freight.
Not to worry. There is no constitutional justification for those responsibilities anyway.
With steep agency funding cuts, and being asked to do more to compensate for the departure of their colleagues, the attrition will continue. You are exactly right about that.
The problem for many of the bureaucrats is that they don’t have skills and the personal drive that are necessary to survive in the private sector. They loathe the thought of leaving their comfy “safe place”.
Hahaha. Most of these retiring bums haven’t worked an honest day in their lives. These whining losers should be shunned by society. Winning!
good
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