Trump gives federal employees the option to resign rather than return to the office
The White House’s newest initiative to reduce the federal workforce is the “deferred resignation” program.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump is proposing a financial incentive for civil servants who choose to exit his administration.
The Office of Personnel Management informed federal employees in an email sent on Tuesday that they would continue to receive their pay and benefits until later this year, provided they leave the government by the following Thursday.
This "deferred resignation" initiative represents Trump's latest effort to transform the federal workforce, which has faced upheaval due to his mandates for returning to the office, a hiring freeze, and the closure of diversity offices.
Under the subject line "Fork in the Road," the email instructs employees to respond from their government accounts, entering the word "Resign" in the message.
“If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program,” the email stated.
Trump's vision for a "reformed" federal workforce revolves around four key principles: a return to the office, fostering a performance-driven culture, creating a streamlined workforce, and implementing "enhanced" standards, as outlined in the email.
However, federal employees who decide to remain with their agency cannot be assured job security moving forward.
“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions,” the email explained.
This resignation program, which began on Tuesday, is open to all federal employees until February 6. Those who resign under this program will maintain their pay and benefits and will be exempt from "in-person work requirements" until September 30.
Senator Tim Kaine criticized the offer as a deception during his remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday evening. He cautioned that the president would "stiff" employees.
“The president has no authority to make that offer,” Kaine stated. “There's no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work.”
Reporter Garrett Downs contributed.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The Office of Personnel Management informed federal employees in an email sent on Tuesday that they would continue to receive their pay and benefits until later this year, provided they leave the government by the following Thursday.
This "deferred resignation" initiative represents Trump's latest effort to transform the federal workforce, which has faced upheaval due to his mandates for returning to the office, a hiring freeze, and the closure of diversity offices.
Under the subject line "Fork in the Road," the email instructs employees to respond from their government accounts, entering the word "Resign" in the message.
“If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program,” the email stated.
Trump's vision for a "reformed" federal workforce revolves around four key principles: a return to the office, fostering a performance-driven culture, creating a streamlined workforce, and implementing "enhanced" standards, as outlined in the email.
However, federal employees who decide to remain with their agency cannot be assured job security moving forward.
“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions,” the email explained.
This resignation program, which began on Tuesday, is open to all federal employees until February 6. Those who resign under this program will maintain their pay and benefits and will be exempt from "in-person work requirements" until September 30.
Senator Tim Kaine criticized the offer as a deception during his remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday evening. He cautioned that the president would "stiff" employees.
“The president has no authority to make that offer,” Kaine stated. “There's no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work.”
Reporter Garrett Downs contributed.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
