The Broadcasting Board of Governors has begun to offer agencywide buyouts as part of efforts to avoid mandatory unpaid leave.

“Buyouts are one of the ways we are working to avoid furloughs and absorb the budget cuts under sequestration,” said Tish King, a BBG spokeswoman.

The buyouts will be worth up to $25,000 and offered to government employees, though not to grantees. They will be presented to workers across the “whole spectrum” of the government side of operations, King told Government Executive. 

“Many people are eligible,” she said, unable to elaborate further on the precise number. Eligibility requirements are open ended, she added, with three years in executive service as the only restriction. BBG last offered buyouts in October.

The application period runs through Friday, May 31. Accepted employees must depart by June 30.

BBG is an independent federal agency overseeing all government-supported, civilian international media and employs about 1,650 workers. The Government Accountability Office recently found significant overlap within the agency.

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