(Protesters rally outside of the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building headquarters of the U.S. Alex Wong, Getty Images)
“I see it as a veiled threat,” said a 25-year federal worker. “You’re either with us or against us.”
A surprise email, titled “The Fork in the Road” arrived on Jan. 28 from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), offering workers a choice: remain under new “reforms,” including in-office work, or resign by replying with “Resign“ in the subject line. Those who accept receive eight months of pay and benefits but must decide by Thursday
Trump, aiming to shrink the government, has empowered Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut costs, targeting $4 billion in daily savings by September. Federal employees fear layoffs if not enough accept the buyout, as OPM warns of potential furloughs and department downsizing.
“It’s nerve-racking,” said a federal analyst in Utah “I have colleagues taking it out of fear.”
(Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) On a Press Conference)
The buyout mirrors Musk’s Twitter downsizing strategy. Those staying must meet new “performance standards” and return to in-office work. A recent OPM memo extended the offer to CIA employees, raising further concerns.
Democrats warn the offer is illegal, and federal unions have sued, arguing Trump lacks authority to issue buyout payments beyond March. “He’s setting up the government to fail” said Everett Kelley, head of the American Federation of Government Employees.
(President Donald Trump in his Office February 5th 2025)
White House officials predict 5-10% of workers will accept, saving $100 billion. As of Tuesday, only 1%—around 20,000 employees—had signed up.
Meanwhile, some workers, such as an Education Department analyst, have been placed on administrative leave without warning. “I’m in limbo” he said. “Should I look for another job?”
Friday looms as a day of reckoning, determining who stays and who goes amid one of the most dramatic federal workforce shake-ups in history.
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