The latest initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the federal workforce has sparked vast criticism.
The Daily Mail reported that this move demands full-time office returns or offers payouts for those opting to leave, signaling significant changes in federal employment policies.
On Tuesday evening, a mass email identified as 'Fork in the Road' reached about two million federal employees, marking the commencement of a strategy to either bring workers back to the office or facilitate their exit through a “deferred resignation” scheme.
This policy stems from an executive order demanding federal employees to cease teleworking and return to their physical office spaces.
Employees who choose to resign under this program are provided with a peculiar choice. They can leave their positions immediately while retaining full pay and benefits until September 30, 2025, or partake in what has been dubbed as a "deferred resignation," where they continue to receive their salary despite not being expected to return to work.
The email outlined that workers should indicate their intention to resign by including the word 'resign' in the subject line of their response. It promised those opting out of payment until the end of September 2025 and explained the conditions of their departure, including being exempt from the office return mandate.
Katie Miller, an official from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), verified that the formal notice was sent to a vast section of federal workers under the Trump administration’s directive.
This widespread approach hints at an overarching objective of reducing government size and spending, a sentiment echoed by recent staffing policies.
This restructuring aims not only at cutting down operational costs but also redefining federal work culture, aligning it less with remote work flexibility that expanded during the pandemic. The administration claims that this could save up to $100 billion if as predicted, 10% of the workforce accepts the resignation offer by the February 6 deadline.
Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, has voiced significant concern. He remarked, "The number of civil servants hasn't meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services. Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for Americans who depend on a functioning federal government."
In addition, Democratic Congressman Gerry Connoly criticized the strategy, highlighting, "Donald Trump is trying every trick he and his Project 2025 cronies can think of to circumvent established civil service protections so they can purge the civil service of experts and replace them with political loyalists. The victims here, as is always the case with Donald Trump, are the American people who will see government services and benefits allocated not by nonpartisan civil servants, but by partisan hacks."
The administration’s notice assured employees of respectful treatment despite job uncertainties. It promised dignity and protection for those whose roles might be eliminated, although it did not stop concerns about job security and the overall health of the federal service landscape.
Elon Musk, now heading DOGE, has publicly taken credit for these sweeping changes, resembling tactics he employed in his business ventures.
Musk’s influence is evident, with Amanda Scales, a former employee of his, now installed as the new chief of staff for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
A lawsuit has also been launched against the deployment of a new OPM-wide email communication tool, which critics argue is part of the broader strategy to reshape federal communications and monitor dissent within the ranks.
As the February 6 deadline approaches, federal employees find themselves at a crucial juncture: return to their offices, leave with compensation, or face potential termination.
This policy marks a significant moment in U.S. governmental operations, potentially setting precedents for federal employment practices for years to come.