The US National Security Agency (NSA) is offering its employees a “deferred retirement” and early retirement program as part of a major federal service reform led by the Donald Trump administration. This initiative has caused a mixed reaction in intellectual circles and affects the country’s national security.
The “Fork in the Road” program was sent to all NSA employees with a requirement to make a decision by February 6. Those who agree to resign are promised payments by the end of September. The US Office of Personnel Management also provided the opportunity for early retirement. However, the NSA, as part of the Department of Defense, reserves the right to reject applications due to national security needs. However, the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, insists on reducing the staff as soon as possible.
According to *The Wall Street Journal*, similar offers have been received by employees of the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. This is part of a broader Trump administration policy aimed at weakening the influence of intelligence agencies, which the president and his allies call the “deep state.” The NSA has repeatedly been the target of Trump’s criticism, and during his first term, attempts to change the agency’s leadership structure have met with resistance from the military command.
The Trump administration has long sought to reduce the size of the federal government and change the balance of power within the intelligence agencies. In 2020, the Pentagon tried to separate the leadership of the NSA and the US Cyber Command, but the plan did not materialize. Recent personnel decisions have also been controversial: Trump recently appointed Michael Ellis as deputy director of the CIA, bypassing traditional approval procedures.
The Trump administration’s decision to restructure the NSA could radically change the agency’s staffing and level of effectiveness. While the White House positions the reform as a way to improve government efficiency, experts warn of potential risks to national security.
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