The Trump administration has sent a memo to federal employees offering them pay and benefits through September 2025 if they resign by February. The move has sparked confusion and warnings of potential ethics violations.
Sep 30, 2025
Source:
WUNC
Administration Offers Paid Resignations
The Trump administration has offered a "deferred resignation program" to nearly all federal employees, a move that has caused widespread confusion and legal concern. The offer was detailed in an email memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) titled “Fork in the Road.”
The Terms
The proposal allows federal workers to resign by February 6, 2025, while continuing to receive their full pay and benefits through September 30, 2025.
Initial Resignation Date: February 6, 2025.
End of Pay and Benefits: September 30, 2025.
The memo instructed employees to simply reply with the word “resign” to accept the terms. Initial communications suggested they would work remotely, but OPM later clarified that most would be placed on paid administrative leave and would not be expected to work. According to the OPM, this program is intended to provide flexibility.
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Source:
WUNC
Legal and Ethical Alarms Raised
Government ethics experts, attorneys, and federal employee unions have strongly advised workers against accepting the offer, citing significant legal risks and potential violations of federal law.
Not a Legal Buyout
Legal representatives have emphasized that this program is not a formal buyout or Reduction in Force (RIF) action, which are governed by established federal regulations. As an ad hoc proposal, it lacks a clear legal or regulatory basis.
“This is not a buyout under existing law—it’s an ad hoc scheme without formal legal backing,” one union attorney stated. This exposes workers to unexpected consequences without the usual protections.
Potential Ethics Violations
Experts warn the move could breach federal ethics laws, including the Hatch Act, which is designed to prevent the use of government resources for partisan political purposes. Critics argue the offer appears designed to reshape the civil service for political reasons, undermining the principle of a nonpartisan government workforce.
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Source:
MPR News
