White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt participates in the daily briefing on Jan. 28; Nothing in the deferred resignation letter prevents agency employees from seeking outside employment during the period from submittal of their resignation to their final resignation date. Image: Shutterstock
By: FEDweek StaffFollowing are two separate Q&As from OPM and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council on the Administration’s newly announced, government-wide “deferred resignation program” – offering employees the option of choosing a September 30 termination date, with transitional job duties, no requirement to return to the office, and the ability to potentially seek outside employment in the interim – while maintaining pay and benefits. Details are still emerging on this novel approach to downsizing, along with many questions so far not addressed in the FAQs.
The offer shares characteristics with traditional government buyouts – i.e. offering money to resign or retire with minimal expectations for further work – but many federal employees insist this is far from it, with some citing stern language in the “fork in the road” mass email that if declined, “we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position,” while also stating, “Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.”
From OPM – https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq
Am I expected to work during the deferred resignation period?
No. Except in rare cases determined by your agency, you are not expected to work.
If I am eligible for early/normal retirement during the deferred resignation period (i.e., before September 30, 2025), will I be able to accept deferred resignation and still accept retirement during the deferred resignation period?
Yes. You will continue to accrue retirement benefits during the deferred resignation period. Should you elect to retire (either early retirement or normal retirement) before your final resignation date, your retirement election will override the deferred resignation.
If I become eligible for normal/early retirement shortly after September 30, 2025, will I be permitted to accept deferred resignation without harming my retirement benefits?
Your agency will review any such requests on a case-by-case basis and may extend a waiver to accommodate reasonable requests.
Why am I being offered deferred resignation?
The federal workforce is expected to undergo significant near-term changes. As a result of these changes (or for other reasons), you may wish to depart the federal government on terms that provide you with sufficient time and economic security to plan for your future—and have a nice vacation.
Who is eligible for deferred resignation?
Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
What do I do if I did not receive the deferred resignation email?
Visit the OPM website where you can review the email and find instructions for submitting your acceptance of the deferred resignation offer.
What happens if I do not respond to the email or accept deferred resignation?
Nothing. You have no obligation to respond to the email. Accepting deferred resignation is in your sole discretion and is completely voluntary.
What happens if I was on approved leave during some or all of the period between January 28, 2025 and February 6, 2025?
If you missed the February 6, 2025 deadline due to approved absence for some or all of the period from January 27, 2025 to February 6, 2025, you are entitled to request an extension. Employing agencies may grant reasonable extensions.
What if I decide after February 6, 2025 that I would like to accept the deferred resignation offer?
Deferred resignation will generally not be available to those who resign after February 6, 2025. Certain exceptions might be made for employees who were on approved absence for some or all of the period from January 28, 2025 to February 6, 2025.
What happens if I accept the deferred resignation offer and later change my mind about resigning?
Employees have the right to request a rescission of their resignation at any time and the employing agency will need to review such recission requests. As noted in the deferred resignation letter, it is the objective of the program to move quickly to consolidate and/or reassign roles and in many cases place employees on administrative leave which would likely serve as a valid reason to deny recission requests.
Am I permitted to accelerate my resignation date to earlier than September 30, 2025?
Yes, you may unilaterally accelerate your final resignation date for any reason.
Am I permitted to extend my final resignation date?
The terms of the deferred resignation letter do not allow for an extension of the final resignation date. There is a narrow possible exception for employees with impending retirement dates. Consult your agency’s human resources team for more information.
Can I accept another job after I submit my resignation but before my final resignation date?
Nothing in the resignation letter prevents you from seeking outside work during the deferred resignation period. You should ask your agency’s human resources team about what restrictions, if any, exist for employees who have resigned but remain employed (including on administrative leave) by their employing agency.
Can I return to work in the federal government?
Deferred resignation does not affect your ability to apply to work for the federal government in the future.
How will I know my resignation has been received and accepted?
You will receive an email confirming receipt with additional information on next steps. Given the volume of emails, this confirmation email may take up to 72 hours. You should retain the record of your resignation email.
Deferred Resignation Email that went out
Here is the deferred resignation email sent to all federal employees, where if the recipient replies with “Resign” in the body of the email they’ve started the process. (CHCOC guidance below addresses what employees should do if someone else with access to their email account resigns them.)
Link to email: Deferred Resignation Email to Federal Employees
If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. 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.
From CHCOC – Guidance Regarding Deferred Resignation Program
To: Heads and Acting Heads of Departments and Agencies
Q: Why is the federal government offering deferred resignation to the federal workforce?
A: The federal workforce is expected to undergo significant near-term changes. As a result of these changes and uncertainty, or for other reasons, some employees may wish to depart the federal government on terms that provide them with sufficient time and economic security to plan for their future.
Q: Who is eligible for deferred resignation?
A: Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces the U.S. Postal Service, positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
Q: What do we do if employees did not receive the deferred resignation email?
A: Either:
1) Send the email directly to the employee from your agency.
2) Direct the employee to visit the OPM website where they can review the email and all associated instructions.
Q: What happens if employees do not respond to the email or accept deferred resignation?
A: Nothing. Employees have no obligation to respond to the email. Accepting deferred resignation is in employees’ sole discretion and is completely voluntary.
Q: For employees who become eligible for early/normal retirement during the deferred resignation period (i.e., before September 30, 2025), will they be able to accept deferred resignation and still accept early/normal retirement during the deferred resignation period?
A: Yes. Employees will continue to accrue retirement benefits during the deferred resignation period. Should employees elect to retire (either early or normal) before their final resignation date, the retirement election will override the deferred resignation.
Q: Will employees who become eligible for normal (or early) retirement shortly after September 30, 2025 be permitted to accept deferred resignation without compromising their impending retirement?
A: Agencies should review any such requests on a case-by-case basis and may extend a waiver to accommodate reasonable requests.
Q: How do we handle employees who were on approved leave during some or all of the period between January 28, 2025 and February 6, 2025 and who, as a result, did not get a sufficient opportunity to evaluate and/or accept the deferred resignation letter?
A: Employees who missed the February 6, 2025 deadline due to approved absence for some or all of the period from January 27, 2025 to February 6, 2025 are entitled to request an extension and employing agencies may grant reasonable extensions.
Q: If an employee decides after February 6, 2025 that they would like to resign under the terms offered in the January 28, 2025 deferred resignation letter, will they still be allowed to?
A: Deferred resignation will generally not be available to those who resign after February 6, 2025. Certain exceptions might be made for employees who were on approved absence for some or all of the period from January 28, 2025 to February 6, 2025.
Q: If an employee resigns and later changes their mind, will the employee be able to rescind their resignation?
A: Employees have the right to request a rescission of their resignation at any time and the employing agency will need to review such recission requests. As noted in the deferred resignation letter, it is the objective of the program to move quickly to consolidate and/or reassign roles and in many cases place employees on administrative leave which would likely serve as a valid reason to deny recission requests.
Q: May employees accelerate their resignation date to earlier than September 30, 2025?
A: Yes, employees may unilaterally accelerate their final resignation date for any reason.
Q: Can employees extend their final resignation date?
A: The terms of the deferred resignation letter do not allow for an extension of the final resignation date. As noted above, there is a narrow possible exception for employees with impending retirement dates.
Q: Can employees get another job outside of their current employing agency during the period between submission of their resignation and the final resignation date?
A: Nothing in the deferred resignation letter prevents agency employees from seeking outside employment during the period from submittal of their resignation to their final resignation date. Employing agencies should assess what restrictions, if any, exist for employees who have resigned but remain employed (including on administrative leave) by their employing agency.
Q: Can employees return to work in the federal government?
A: Deferred resignation does not affect employees’ ability to apply to work for the federal government in the future.
Q: How will employees know their resignations have been received and accepted?
A: Employees will receive an email confirming receipt with additional information on next steps. Given the volume of emails, this confirmation email may take up to 48 hours. Employees should retain the record of their resignation email.
Q: What if somebody resigns for on behalf of another employee without that employee’s authorization?
A: Deferred resignation can only be submitted from a secure government email. If someone has accessed an employee’s email without authorization, you should immediately follow your agency’s protocol for addressing such unauthorized use.
Q: Is there any additional paperwork needed to resign?
A: An employee’s acceptance of the deferred resignation letter will serve as a formal acceptance of deferred resignation. If the employing agency requests additional documentation, the deferred resignation letter obligates employees to cooperate with their employing agency to complete all reasonable and customary documentation.
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See also,
Top 10 Provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill of Interest to Federal Employees
A Pre-RIF Checklist for Every Federal Employee, From a Federal Employment Attorney
Work Longer or Take the FERS Supplement Now: Which is Better?
Doubling Your TSP (C Fund vs G Fund)
