Sen. Mark Warner says fed workers shouldn’t trust Trump to live up to buyout offer

By Tom Howell Jr.

Washington Times

Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia warned federal employees on Wednesday to “think twice” before accepting an unprecedented White House buyout offer that allows workers who resign by Feb. 6 to receive severance paid through Sept. 30.

Mr. Warner, a Democrat, said President Trump has a poor track record of paying people and living up to promises.

“Think twice. Has this individual in his business world ever fulfilled his contracts or obligations to any workers in the past?” he said during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee that featured Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Mr. Trump is offering all 2 million federal workers eight months’ salary in exchange for resigning from their positions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said American taxpayers deserve federal employees “who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers.”

Mr. Warner, during an exchange with Mr. Kennedy over plans to eliminate over 2,000 jobs from HHS, urged federal workers to be skeptical. The senator struggled to get Mr. Kennedy to pinpoint who, exactly, would be fired and from which agencies within the department.

“I will commit to not firing anybody who is doing their job,” Mr. Kennedy said.

“Based on your opinion, or your political agenda or Mr. Trump’s political agenda?” Mr. Warner asked.

 “Based upon my opinion,” Mr. Kennedy replied.

“I guess that means any folks who’ve had any type of views on vaccines will be out of work,” Mr. Warner said.

Mr. Warner is echoing his fellow Democratic senator from Virginia, Tim Kaine, who said Mr. Trump does not have the authority to offer a buyout.

“Don’t be fooled by this guy,” Mr. Kaine said on the Senate floor late Tuesday. “He’s tricked hundreds of people with that offer. If you accept that offer and resign, he’ll stiff you.”

Mr. Warner and Mr. Kaine represent a state with many federal workers who live in the Beltway region.