The 2025 "Fork in the Road" email

[IRQVET]

Obviously worried like most federal employees, related what the future holds. Email came out at different times for each employee, which initially added to a lot of confusion. My initial thought- was no way I'm taking the bait. If you have any skin in the TSP game, the offer didn't make a lot of sense. If I was a 1-2 year old employee, 8 months on the beach paid would be very advantageous. But not so much for those of use who have more skin the game and planned on making this a career.

I have to say I'm little let down. This is the second time in my (half a career) my position in the federal government has been threatened to end abruptly. I had a conversation with a college intern today on a pathways program. She was explaining to me that she graduates next year, and she was previously leaning toward federal vs private sector employment. But with the recent events, she was beginning to lean more toward private sector as it seemed more stable. I'll admit, I was shocked by her comment, but given her age and recent events, I had to remind myself she was young and didn't know any better.

But I'll admit- a part of me, coming from government sector, to private sector, and then back into government sector. I had that thought as I was speaking to her, "Maybe I'm wrong."

Crazy times we're living in my friends . . .

[evilanne]

A few links on the offer
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/trump-b ... rkers.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoyNeU1vG6c&t=409s

[Bubba]

Obviously worried like most federal employees, related what the future holds. Email came out at different times for each employee, which initially added to a lot of confusion. My initial thought- was no way I'm taking the bait. If you have any skin in the TSP game, the offer didn't make a lot of sense. If I was a 1-2 year old employee, 8 months on the beach paid would be very advantageous. But not so much for those of use who have more skin the game and planned on making this a career.

I have to say I'm little let down. This is the second time in my (half a career) my position in the federal government has been threatened to end abruptly. I had a conversation with a college intern today on a pathways program. She was explaining to me that she graduates next year, and she was previously leaning toward federal vs private sector employment. But with the recent events, she was beginning to lean more toward private sector as it seemed more stable. I'll admit, I was shocked by her comment, but given her age and recent events, I had to remind myself she was young and didn't know any better.

But I'll admit- a part of me, coming from government sector, to private sector, and then back into government sector. I had that thought as I was speaking to her, "Maybe I'm wrong."

Crazy times we're living in my friends . . .

It is a bit scary...I'm in operations and what we're doing is heavily impacted by the dysfunction in DC in every sense. Hopefully that'll die down soon enough.

[Scarfinger]

You would not get 8 months off work paid. You had to still do your "work from home" duties and then would be let go at the Sept date. It was just a "delayed" resignation, not a buy out or severance package. Just a delayed resignation.

It was mainly oriented towards the work from home folks that may not want to come back to the office.

[94aggie]

this may help with questions...
https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq

[Blue_Radio]

I had a conversation with a college intern today on a pathways program. She was explaining to me that she graduates next year, and she was previously leaning toward federal vs private sector employment. But with the recent events, she was beginning to lean more toward private sector as it seemed more stable. I'll admit, I was shocked by her comment, but given her age and recent events, I had to remind myself she was young and didn't know any better.

But I'll admit- a part of me, coming from government sector, to private sector, and then back into government sector, I had [the] thought as I was speaking to her, "Maybe I'm wrong."

Retired federal worker here.

Her reaction is entirely understandable and rational, as is yours. I'd encourage her to wait and see what happens over, say, the next three months and then re-evaluate. That said, I wouldn't hold it against any new college graduate for taking a pass on a federal position under the current circumstances.

The people I feel for are those federal workers at mid-career -- especially those living in the expensive DC area who, for example, have kids in daycare, are servicing a mortgage, perhaps caring for an elderly parent, and are otherwise dealing with all the personal and professional pressures middle age has to offer.

Financial instability is now something every federal worker should be prepared for. When the furloughs hit (10 years ago?), I was aware of cases where people had to go to relatives and churches for financial assistance. Subsequently, I counseled younger colleagues to keep enough cash in the bank to live through furloughs and pay disruptions from continuing resolutions. It was then a question of how much. I recommended at least one month's worth of expenses, and to avoid living paycheck to paycheck.

[Scarfinger]

this may help with questions...
https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq

The head of the new DOGE program did a similar thing when he bought twitter. Promised severance packages to employees that stayed on during the transition and then held a mass layoffs and never paid severance. He won in court and did not have to pay the estimated 500 million in severances.

I just would not sign anything until you know the rules. The FERS union is suggesting to NOT sign any resignation forms through this email.

And working in the government 14 years now, I know different agencies can interpret the same rules differently. Buyer beware, proceed with caution.

[Bubba]

this may help with questions...
https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq

The head of the new DOGE program did a similar thing when he bought twitter. Promised severance packages to employees that stayed on during the transition and then held a mass layoffs and never paid severance. He won in court and did not have to pay the estimated 500 million in severances.

I just would not sign anything until you know the rules. The FERS union is suggesting to NOT sign any resignation forms through this email.

And working in the government 14 years now, I know different agencies can interpret the same rules differently. Buyer beware, proceed with caution.

Same here. I don't trust anything until Congress moves. The Executive branch's job is to carry out and interpret laws created by the Legislative (and sometimes Judicial branches). Not the other way around. So, I'm going to hang back quite a bit (not that it matters since I'm still double digits from retirement).

[TLuke]

I have not seen anything that indicates vacated billets due “deferred resignation” will be deleted entirely from an agency’s personnel roles. If not, they will just hire someone else who agrees to in-person work.

[Scarfinger]

So far they are telling us to basically proceed with caution concerning what OPM is saying.

"It is crucial that no operational changes stemming from presidential directives or orders are implemented outside of the official VHA Operations guidance."

"If you choose to resign, please continue working until your supervisor confirms your leave status, even if you receive a message from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)."

[jimcasada]

Don't do it! Courts will soon likely throw this one out too, since nothing has been approved by Congress. Constitution says Congess holds the purse strings, and has the ultimate say in who gets paid for what. Once you tender your resignation and something happens otherwise, where would you be???

[Bubba]

Don't do it! Courts will soon likely throw this one out too, since nothing has been approved by Congress. Constitution says Congess holds the purse strings, and has the ultimate say in who gets paid for what. Once you tender your resignation and something happens otherwise, where would you be???

The thing that concerns me is how comparable the whole situation is to Musk's takeover of Twitter. There, even down to the e-mail, had the exact same situation. The beauty is that the severance pay that he offered, he never paid. What was even better is that in the courts, when people sued him for non-payment, the courts threw that out. So, I'm not trusting anything. Again, given the breach in the Treasury Dept and this offer, I'm going to lie low here...

[Aitrus]

The way I understand the Twitter thing, it happened something like this.

- The workers were promised the same thing that's promised here: an option to resign and continue in a remote / low work / no work status for X period of time. Not a lump sum check, just an extended version of a 2-week notice.

- The workers opted to resign, then actually stopped working earlier than the X period of time had passed. They expected a lump sum check, but it was never paid.

- They sued to get the lump sum check, but that wasn't what the offer entailed. They sued Musk for breaking a promise they thought he made, but which in fact he didn't. Now they're bitter about it.

I could be completely wrong on my reading of this. If anybody knows more, I'd appreciate being informed about it.

But that's the kind of situation I see brewing here: people either not having good English comprehension, or deliberately reading the offer with bad intentions. If Trump / OPM leadership are legitimate about this (which I hope they are), I read it as something along these lines:

"We plan to make significant changes to federal service. Here's a glimpse of what those things might be - including the requirement to end remote work for most of the force. We understand if you have a problem with that, and we want to offer you a drama-free way out. Here's an offer for 8 months of support while you look for other work and help us transition and/or end your assigned duties (depending on whether or not they're actually needed). You can leave earlier if you like, and if you're retirement eligible you can do that if you prefer (kind of the reverse of the military's "Stop Loss" program that halts all retirements and separations during a time of emergency." [note: if one resigns and leaves earlier, it seems implied that they forfeit the remainder of the 8 months of pay/benefits]

I see the offer as benefiting two groups: those who are retirement eligible and are ok with going early and would welcome an extra 8 months of light work / no work to pad their numbers, and those who have just a few years in the Civil Service but who can still have a full career elsewhere. For the bulk of Civil Servants (say, 10+ years but less than MRA), they either need to really disagree with Trump and his policies or have a strong desire to leave government service already and are just looking or an excuse / opportunity / greener grass.

[Scarfinger]

The way I understand the Twitter thing, it happened something like this.

"We plan to make significant changes to federal service. Here's a glimpse of what those things might be - including the requirement to end remote work for most of the force. We understand if you have a problem with that, and we want to offer you a drama-free way out. Here's an offer for 8 months of support while you look for other work and help us transition and/or end your assigned duties (depending on whether or not they're actually needed). You can leave earlier if you like, and if you're retirement eligible you can do that if you prefer (kind of the reverse of the military's "Stop Loss" program that halts all retirements and separations during a time of emergency." [note: if one resigns and leaves earlier, it seems implied that they forfeit the remainder of the 8 months of pay/benefits]

I see the offer as benefiting two groups: those who are retirement eligible and are ok with going early and would welcome an extra 8 months of light work / no work to pad their numbers, and those who have just a few years in the Civil Service but who can still have a full career elsewhere. For the bulk of Civil Servants (say, 10+ years but less than MRA), they either need to really disagree with Trump and his policies or have a strong desire to leave government service already and are just looking or an excuse / opportunity / greener grass.

You can read the email as Roses and the OPM statements like you just won a fabulous vacation. Ask yourself why you have to respond by Feb 7th? I believe that was the date?

And then the FERS union sends you an email saying to NOT respond to the "delayed resignation" email? Then a couple days later I get an email from the Veterans Health Administration that says that you need to continue to work even if you responded to the email. No matter what OPM is saying... At least It doesn't sound like the VHA is on board with any "delayed resignations". Them there Roses got some stink in them. Proceed with caution.

Jan 29th 2025:
"Today, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), represented by Democracy Forward and Bredhoff and Kaiser PLLC, filed suit against the Trump administration."

Probably going to be a court battle so who knows what will happen...

[jimcasada]

I used go to Twitter often to check on stock tickers & such for latest info or to exchange meaningful discussion, but now it's most all just propaganda, click bait, & scammer postings. Still good information found here!