Deferred Resignation Email to Federal Employees
January 28, 2025
Facts: https://www.opm.fork.gov/fork
This detailed email notice was sent to federal employees on January 28th, providing employees with two options:
1) to remain in their current position and be aware of a renewed focus on serving the American people as a part of “ an improved federal workforce,” or
2) to leave the federal workforce with a “dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program.” As you know, this second option was provided January 28th with a deadline of February 6th. According to the OPM website, the option closed as of 7:20 PM, February 12th. Any resignations that were received after were not accepted.
The offer specified that employees who accepted deferred resignation would retain all pay and benefits and be exempted from in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025.
NOTE: Those who worked in certain federal positions were excluded from the deferred resignation offer and could not accept it. Also, those who did accept the offer were informed in the email “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 afforded the protections in place for such positions.”
Accordingly, reliable news outlets reported that as of the closing date of the Deferred Resignation offer, 75,000 out of 2.3 million federal workers accepted the deferred resignation offer. It appears that once accepted, it will not be rescinded.
For those who didn’t, what now?
