The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is facing a substantial staff reduction as approximately 500 employees have agreed to leave the agency in response to buyout and deferred-resignation offers totaling $50,000. This exodus is part of a broader reshuffle initiated under the Trump administration, with reports indicating that more than 700 staff members, including over 150 from the Enforcement Division, have submitted resignation notices. The SEC's workforce changes are expected to impact its regulatory effectiveness amid ongoing scrutiny of market practices.