In interviews, federal employees expressed dread and uncertainty over the looming deadline to tell the Trump administration whether they’ll accept a buyout — or stay on the job.

The buyout is part of a government overhaul, which is being led by Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk. It has resulted in purges of personnel in a number of departments and has significantly scaled down America's main humanitarian aid agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development.