By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

Two Democratic senators on Tuesday said they had asked the White House for key details about the Trump administration’s financial incentive offer to about 2 million federal workers to quit their jobs.

Senator Gary Peters, top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Richard Blumenthal, lead Democrat on an investigations subcommittee, stated that the “promises made to federal workers in this program contravene existing law” and “will contribute untold amounts to government waste and inefficiency.”

They seek detailed weekly data on how many workers have sought to participate by agency and how agencies will function without those workers.

The administration has proposed that federal employees can retain their regular pay and benefits through September 30 while accepting outside employment and resigning from federal duties.

The White House Office of Personnel Management declined to comment on Tuesday, referring to a memo issued last week, which defended the legality of the program.

The senators cited a report indicating that the Internal Revenue Service informed employees participating in the program that they were required to work through May 15, as they are “essential” for the tax filing season this year.

They also requested information on the number of employees excluded from the deferred resignation program. The White House initially offered the program to air traffic controllers and federal airport security officers but later specified that public safety workers were ineligible.

Unions have urged their members not to accept the buyout offer, arguing that the Trump administration cannot be trusted to uphold it. As of Monday, over 65,000 federal employees had signed up for the buyouts, according to a White House official.

The senators noted that current spending laws expire on March 14 and that there is no assurance that salaries would be funded thereafter.

On Monday, a U.S. judge maintained his block on the deferred retirement offer.