Buffeted by the crosswinds of federal funding cuts and preexisting budget pressures, the Healey administration drew heightened scrutiny to Beacon Hill’s spending and saving practices by floating the idea of cutting a sizable chunk of state jobs.  

Administration officials in recent weeks have approached at least four unions representing public-sector employees to begin discussions about a potential buyout program, the latest flashpoint in a debate about the use of state resources amid delays to food aid and cuts to child care programs. 

Buyout talks are preliminary, and Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday that she has not made any final decisions. Still, the scope could be significant: two labor leaders told CommonWealth Beacon they think the administration is weighing ways to reduce headcount by 2,000 positions or more.  

Several union heads said the Healey administration has not yet provided many details about what’s on the table and which state agencies would be affected.  

“I’m actually quite befuddled that it doesn’t appear that anybody has a handle on the whole process,” said National Association of Government Employees president David Holway, whose union represents more than 15,000 state workers in Massachusetts.  

Chatter about trimming the state workforce burst into the spotlight on Tuesday, when the Boston Herald reported that SEIU Local 509 bosses informed their members that a possible voluntary buyout program was on the horizon.  

Higher-ups at three other unions — NAGE, AFSCME Council 93, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association — confirmed to CommonWealth Beacon they had been approached by the Healey administration to discuss the topic. None have agreed to any deal, and all are seeking more information from the state.  

Labor leaders said the administration is considering $20,000 buyouts for public-sector workers who retire and $10,000 buyouts for those not yet eligible for retirement, though Holway said the actual offers could vary by state agency.  

“It’s not written in stone and it’s not across the board,” he said.  

Holway said he believes Healey and her deputies are eyeing about 2,000 cuts between attrition and buyouts. Jim Durkin, director of legislation and political action for AFSCME Council 93, said the administration told his union it was considering leaving 1,100 vacant positions unfilled and cutting another 1,750 through attrition.  

“We heard about it, but they’re scant on the details and the agencies involved,” added MNA public communications director David Schildmeier, who added that “all the unions are looking for more specifics and who’s impacted.”