Thousands of workers at the U.S. Transportation Department sign up for a new buyout option as government agencies continue to cut staff.

According to a department official who spoke to Reuters, some 4,000 U.S. Transportation Department workers have registered to accept a new buyout offer that provides compensation and benefits through September 30.

According to the source, the number is not definitive, as it may contain workers who are ineligible or individuals who submitted several emails requesting the buyout.

The offer, which was presented last week, excludes public safety jobs, including cybersecurity staff, railroad safety inspectors, pipeline and hazardous materials safety inspectors, and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and aviation safety inspectors.

On a federal website, the Transportation Department employs about 57,000 people. Around 75,000 federal workers nationwide accepted buyout offers in February as part of the first phase of the initiative run by Elon Musk's DOGE team, which has been entrusted with reducing the number of federal employees.

The number of Transportation Department workers that participated in the initial offer is unknown.

In recent weeks, more than a dozen more federal agencies have extended the offer of second chances to their employees.

Motor carrier safety specialists, employees of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and those employed assisting with the upkeep and operation of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway locks are also exempt.

Although there is a severe shortage of air traffic controllers and other safety professionals, the Trump administration first offered buyouts to these workers, which drew criticism. However, the government eventually changed its mind. This year, the FAA plans to employ 2,000 trainee air traffic controllers.

A reduction-in-force plan was not submitted, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent organization that looks into transportation incidents.