Donald Trump’s return to the office order has prompted 20,000 workers to quit in favour of buyout offers. The president’s administration is offering buyouts to federal employees in an unprecedented move to shrink the US government at breakneck speed.

Federal workers in Colorado face a life-altering decision this week — tender their resignations or hold firm and face future rounds of belt-tightening.

The Vermont independent has demanded agency heads provide information on the early resignation program, casting it as part of a Trump power grab.

Over 20,000 U.S. federal employees, roughly 1% of the government workforce, have signed up for an offer to quit their jobs, a source said on Tuesday, in return for continuing to receive their salaries through the end of September.

More than 20,000 employees — about 1% of the federal workforce — have signed up for an offer to quit their jobs in exchange for a deferred resignation deal that would have taxpayers continue to pay their salaries through the end of September.

A large number of federal workers has decided to take President Donald Trump up on his offer of buyouts. Axios reported that close 20,000 workers, representing 1% of the total federal workforce, have said that they will take the buyouts.