Education Department staff face turmoil over ‘buyout’ offer
During a staff meeting, an employee raised a crucial point: “Employees need to know what happens to these agreements if the Department of Education is no longer an entity.”
TroibNews 
Education Department staff were left bewildered and stunned during a staff meeting held Wednesday, which reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s extensive plan to encourage federal employees to resign.
This meeting took place one day before a February 6 deadline for civil servants to accept the administration's offer to leave their positions early, amid a forthcoming executive order aimed at dismantling the Education Department. During the internal meeting, which featured remarks from some of the agency’s political staffers and human resources leadership, top officials hinted at further workforce reductions.
“Where is this stuff in writing?” one employee queried during the meeting.
Civil servants considering the early exit offer, particularly those outside the Washington, D.C., area, were informed that the agency was still assessing government-owned or leased properties available to employees per the administration’s return-to-office directives. PMG discussed the meeting with two individuals who requested anonymity to share insights about the session without fear of repercussions.
“This is one of many different things that this administration is exploring in the hope of getting towards that goal of reducing bureaucracy and ensuring that we are serving the American people as efficiently as possible,” Rachel Oglesby, the department’s chief of staff, commented to staff regarding the government’s deferred resignation program. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
Employees raised concerns about whether accepting the deferred resignation offer proposed by the federal Office of Personnel Management in late January would impact their retirement plans. Others worried about the status of any agreements should the department be closed and what consequences could follow if they did not resign.
“Employees need to know what happens to these agreements if the Department of Education is no longer an entity,” one employee noted during the meeting.
An Education Department spokesperson opted not to provide comments.
While the officials leading the meeting did not press employees to accept the administration's offer, department human resources chief Jacqueline Clay stressed that the program was “a one-time offer and will not be offered again.” She also indicated that upcoming restructuring efforts within the department could further reduce staff numbers.
“Will the department go into more restructuring and reshaping of its workforce? Yes,” Clay affirmed. “Will there be potential other impacts to employees? Yes.”
The Trump administration has indicated plans to issue an executive order targeting the dissolution of the Education Department. This has led some federal employees to fear that their agencies could face similar fates as the US Agency for International Development, which is set to place thousands on leave Friday night.
“Folks are just incredibly anxious waiting for the other shoe to drop,” an Education Department employee remarked before the meeting. “Management isn't telling supervisors or employees what's coming down the pike.”
“We're all just kind of waiting to see what this shutdown EO looks like. People are buzzing around trying to find out who of our colleagues are on admin leave,” the employee added. “It's just disconnected and unnervingly quiet.”
Concerns arose during the meeting regarding how the deferred resignation offer from OPM would align with Trump’s intention to abolish the department. Employees indicated that a sample agreement received states that the Education Secretary or their designee has “the sole discretion to rescind the agreement” and that employees cannot pursue legal action as a result.
When asked if former employees would need to repay any money provided while on leave if the resignation program were invalidated in court, Clay informed employees that OPM has confirmed the program is “legal, permissible and allowable.”
Representatives from the White House’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency were slated to visit the Education Department on Wednesday to review the department’s information systems, as noted by a department employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. DOGE representatives were also present at Education Department headquarters Monday to access agency records.
Tensions have been high among Education Department employees since several individuals were placed on administrative leave for participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs last Friday.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing workers at the Education Department, reported that 74 individuals were placed on leave, although specific reasons for their selection were not disclosed. The agency is examining the circumstances surrounding these leaves, with AFGE being informed that the review may take up to 30 to 45 days.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
This meeting took place one day before a February 6 deadline for civil servants to accept the administration's offer to leave their positions early, amid a forthcoming executive order aimed at dismantling the Education Department. During the internal meeting, which featured remarks from some of the agency’s political staffers and human resources leadership, top officials hinted at further workforce reductions.
“Where is this stuff in writing?” one employee queried during the meeting.
Civil servants considering the early exit offer, particularly those outside the Washington, D.C., area, were informed that the agency was still assessing government-owned or leased properties available to employees per the administration’s return-to-office directives. PMG discussed the meeting with two individuals who requested anonymity to share insights about the session without fear of repercussions.
“This is one of many different things that this administration is exploring in the hope of getting towards that goal of reducing bureaucracy and ensuring that we are serving the American people as efficiently as possible,” Rachel Oglesby, the department’s chief of staff, commented to staff regarding the government’s deferred resignation program. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
Employees raised concerns about whether accepting the deferred resignation offer proposed by the federal Office of Personnel Management in late January would impact their retirement plans. Others worried about the status of any agreements should the department be closed and what consequences could follow if they did not resign.
“Employees need to know what happens to these agreements if the Department of Education is no longer an entity,” one employee noted during the meeting.
An Education Department spokesperson opted not to provide comments.
While the officials leading the meeting did not press employees to accept the administration's offer, department human resources chief Jacqueline Clay stressed that the program was “a one-time offer and will not be offered again.” She also indicated that upcoming restructuring efforts within the department could further reduce staff numbers.
“Will the department go into more restructuring and reshaping of its workforce? Yes,” Clay affirmed. “Will there be potential other impacts to employees? Yes.”
The Trump administration has indicated plans to issue an executive order targeting the dissolution of the Education Department. This has led some federal employees to fear that their agencies could face similar fates as the US Agency for International Development, which is set to place thousands on leave Friday night.
“Folks are just incredibly anxious waiting for the other shoe to drop,” an Education Department employee remarked before the meeting. “Management isn't telling supervisors or employees what's coming down the pike.”
“We're all just kind of waiting to see what this shutdown EO looks like. People are buzzing around trying to find out who of our colleagues are on admin leave,” the employee added. “It's just disconnected and unnervingly quiet.”
Concerns arose during the meeting regarding how the deferred resignation offer from OPM would align with Trump’s intention to abolish the department. Employees indicated that a sample agreement received states that the Education Secretary or their designee has “the sole discretion to rescind the agreement” and that employees cannot pursue legal action as a result.
When asked if former employees would need to repay any money provided while on leave if the resignation program were invalidated in court, Clay informed employees that OPM has confirmed the program is “legal, permissible and allowable.”
Representatives from the White House’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency were slated to visit the Education Department on Wednesday to review the department’s information systems, as noted by a department employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. DOGE representatives were also present at Education Department headquarters Monday to access agency records.
Tensions have been high among Education Department employees since several individuals were placed on administrative leave for participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs last Friday.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing workers at the Education Department, reported that 74 individuals were placed on leave, although specific reasons for their selection were not disclosed. The agency is examining the circumstances surrounding these leaves, with AFGE being informed that the review may take up to 30 to 45 days.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
