US President Donald Trump holds up outgoing President Joe Biden's letter as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025. (Jim Watson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Employees who resign were also told they will retain all pay and benefits regardless of workload, and will be exempt from in-person work requirements until Sep. 30, 2025.
"We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient," Trump told reporters of the plan Wednesday. "And that's what we've been looking to do for many, many decades."
'GET BACK TO WORK': HOUSE OVERSIGHT TO TAKE ON GOVERNMENT TELEWORK IN 1ST HEARING OF NEW CONGRESS
President Donald Trump takes part in a signing ceremony after his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in the President's Room at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Melina Mara-Pool/Getty Images)
"A lot of people are getting paychecks, but they're actually working other jobs, so they'll have to prove that to us that they weren't," Trump said.
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this article.
Breanne Deppisch is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the 2024 election and other national news.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-ultimatum-federal-workers-return-office-or-terminated