Whoa . . what? Google is sending mass buyout offers to staff, just like the government?

Photo above - it's not as if we weren't warned. Trump had a reality TV show on NBC about this . . .

The optics of Trump's termination/severance offer to 2 million federal workers couldn’t be worse. It came just a day or so before a half-staffed Dulles airport control tower was unable to decide on a safe distance between an inbound commuter jet and a military helicopter on a "night training mission" over the nation’s capitol.

There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, the US has been short of air traffic controllers for years. In fact, outgoing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had to testify before congress about why there were more than 2,000 vacancies. This seems like a self-inflicted wound, since air traffic controller salaries start north of $120,000 a year. Not as much as the “water chief” of Los Angeles makes, but still, it’s good money.

So it’s unlikely the entire air traffic controller workforce will take the buyout, like some op-ed writer puckishly suggested.

The second problem is Blackhawk helicopter night training missions in the flight path to one of America’s most congested airports. This sounds even more dangerous than mass FAA drone flights over New Jersey. We are learning now that 2 other Dulles landings had to abort this month because Fort Belvoir choppers wandered into the path of approaching aircraft. The Pentagon says these missions are routine and safe. Mr. Hegseth . . . you’re up. Do you have a take on this? Most of your claim to fame comes from the assertion that our nations generals are clueless. This might be your moment. Fire someone, immediately. Don’t wait for the buyout emails.

However, this morning’s link is to Google’s civilian workforce mass-buyout offer. It went to everyone working on Android stuff, which I would have thought was a keeper. Also, everyone in the Pixel group. And the smartwatch group. See link below. Either this money is going to be used to ramp up AI efforts, or Google AI is already so smart it can do the jobs of most of these Android/Pixel desk jockeys. The article doesn’t say how many folks are working just on Android+Pixel, but Google has 200,000 people on its US payroll.

Of course, unions are in a frenzy now. Monthly federal employee union dues are probably enough to buy a B21 bomber. Some union executives might end up getting buyout offers too, if enough Federal workers take the bait.

Wall Street banks and brokerages are trying to sever tens of thousands of workers who won’t return to the office. The failure to return is not just because the subways are unsafe and the commute is an hour each way. Many of those folks were just that not into their jobs. Don’t expect to see 8 month severance packages like the millions of federal workers are getting. One third of those federal workers (700,000) live in just 4 states: DC, Maryland, Virginia, and California. Close your eyes and repeat after me: “Falling Real Estate Prices”.

I’m sure people are using AI to cook up new 2025 buyout offers to desk workers at GM, Ford, Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, Amtrak, Target, Marriott, etc. We could be headed from “full employment” to “record unemployment filings” like we were during the covid-19 lockdowns. This has nothing to do with Trump tariffs, or the roundup of MS13 and Tren de Aragua cartel soldiers in sanctuary cities.

Here’s my advice to GS 5 through 13 federal workers. If you have actual skills (air traffic controller, structural engineer, healthcare professional) don’t take the buyout bait. You’re needed, and you make America a better, safer place. If you have an undergraduate degree in literature, sociology, or poly-sci, give that buyout offer some serious thought. Despite what your union steward with that sociology diploma is telling you.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Google Offers Voluntary Exit for Staff in Pixel and Android Group - Business Insider