Most Department of Education employees have been offered a buyout worth up to $25,000 if they resign from their roles in the next few days. Jacqueline Clay, a chief human capital officer at the Education Department,

In an email obtained by USA TODAY, the Education Department offered employees $25,000 to take a buyout ahead of a "significant" staff reduction.

An email was sent to staff members outlining the offer, but it quickly disappeared from employee inboxes, creating more confusion.