Federal Workers Receive Another ‘Deferred Resignation’ Offer Ahead Of Layoffs

Federal employees are receiving fresh “deferred resignation” offers in their inboxes as the Trump administration takes another shot at pushing them off the government payrolls.

Workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security were told Monday they were being given another chance to accept the White House’s “Fork in the Road” proposal, according to emails viewed by HuffPost. VA workers were given until April 30 to accept, while DHS workers were given until April 14.

As outlined by the administration, workers who take the deferred resignation deal would remain on the payroll through September while performing little or no work. It’s part of the Trump administration’s effort, spearheaded by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to cut a large chunk of the federal workforce by legally dubious means.

The White House is trying to use the threat of looming layoffs to persuade more workers to take the “Fork in the Road” offer. Agencies across the federal government are developing what are known as “reduction in force” plans to be rolled out in the coming weeks, potentially leading to the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs. Many workers have chosen to resign rather than face more uncertainty and firings.

In the VA email, Secretary Doug Collins wrote that the agency was offering “another opportunity to take advantage of the deferred resignation offer” — one that came with a warning.

“Should you elect to not take the DRP, VA cannot provide assurance regarding the certainty of your position moving forward,” Collins wrote.

The deferred resignation proposal was initially made to workers in late January. At the time, the administration set what it portrayed as a firm deadline of Feb. 6 in hopes of pressuring as many employees as possible to take it. The “Fork in the Road” page on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website even says the program “is now closed” and not accepting new resignations.

The White House had said around 75,000 workers had accepted the “Fork in the Road” proposal as of mid-February. But they may not have found as many takers as they hoped, with agencies now reopening the offer and urging workers to reconsider.

Federal News Network reported Monday that employees at the Internal Revenue Service were just given a “second and final” chance to accept the deal. Last week, similar offers were made at the Defense Department, the Small Business Administration and the Housing and Urban Development Department, among other agencies.

The Monday email from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the deferred resignation program was still on the menu, along with other, more standard early retirement and voluntary separation programs.

“By offering these options, we intend to provide flexibility for employees who may be considering a change, retirement, or new career opportunities,” Noem wrote.

One IRS employee in Texas told HuffPost she has spent the last two months fighting to keep her job amid the constant firings and re-hirings. This time, though, she said she’s taking the administration up on its offer of a deferred resignation.

“It’s the only thing that kind of makes sense for me,” said this employee, who requested anonymity as she rides out the final days of her job. “This will allegedly give me pay and benefits through September, which I won’t have with a [job termination].”

“It was a hard decision,” she added, “but I also don’t really want to keep working for this fascist regime.”

Are you a federal employee with something to share? You can email our reporter here, or contact him over Signal at davejamieson.99.