The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) offered employees to voluntarily leave the service with a salary payment for eight months and retention of benefits, reports CNN. The CIA became the first national security body affected by these changes. Until Tuesday, this offer, in which federal employees are informed that they can resign and receive approximately eight months of salary and benefits, did not apply to most positions in the national security field, which is obviously explained by their critically important function for the country's security. The package allows them to leave voluntarily and receive a salary until September 30, but not continue working.
According to CNN, the decision to include the agency in the new reform program was made personally by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. It is still unclear whether all employees or only certain categories of specialists will be able to take advantage of the proposed conditions. According to one source familiar with the proposal, some specific professions and areas of expertise are likely to be restricted, indicating that this measure is not as extensive as in civil service agencies, which are believed not to deal with national security issues. According to another source familiar with the matter, Ratcliffe also needs to maintain flexibility in working on the timing of officer dismissals in critically important areas.
This step is aimed at ensuring that CIA employees «meet the administration's national security priorities», said an intelligence agency spokesperson, adding that it is «part of a comprehensive strategy to infuse the Agency with new energy».
Some critics called the retirement program a purge, which Trump officials deny.