Michael Hernandez
31 January 2025•Update: 31 January 2025
WASHINGTON
Federal employees across the country should accept a buyout offer and go on their "dream" vacation, according to a copy of the note sent to Anadolu Friday ahead of a key deadline next week.
The brief note, sent from the Office of Personnel Management on Thursday evening, provides a series of quick answers to encourage the nation's roughly 2 million federal workers to accept the proposal. The offer includes being paid without working through the end of September during what is being called a "deferred resignation" period.
Multiple Democratic lawmakers have warned staff not to accept, saying Trump lacks the budgetary authorities to pay them should they take the deal.
"Q: Will I really get my full pay and benefits during the entire period through September 30, even if I get a second job? A: Yes. You will also accrue further personal leave days, vacation days, etc. and be paid out for unused leave at your final resignation date," the email, sent from a government employee to Anadolu, says.
Employees are further encouraged to get another job in the private sector during their "deferred resignation" period, with the note telling them, "The way to greater American prosperity is encouraging people to move from lower productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector."
Should they choose not to do so, "You are most welcome stay at home and relax or to travel to your dream destination. Whatever you would like," it says.
President Donald Trump has tapped tech billionaire Elon Musk to lead his initiative to significantly reduce the federal workforce's footprint via a commission known as the department of government efficiency. Staff have until Feb. 6 to accept the offer that was first extended Tuesday amid a blanket warning that "we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency" going forward.
Having federal employees quit en masse, as the "deferred resignation" program seeks to ensure, would prevent the wave of litigation that would likely result from mass firings.
"If you are a federal worker being offered a buyout, I would advise against taking it. Of course, this is a personal decision for everyone and it’s your choice," Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the Bluesky social media website.
"But these offers are a rush job. The legality is questionable and this admin does not keep to its word. They aren’t firing for a reason," she added.
The warning echoes that of Sen. Tim Kaine who took to the Senate floor shortly after the buyout offer was made Tuesday to warn that Trump "has no authority to make that offer! There's no budget line-item to pay people who are not showing up to work!"
"My message to federal employees who receive this is yeah, the president has tried to terrorize you for about a week, and then gives you a little sweetheart offer: 'If you resign in the next week, we're just gonna pay you for doing nothing for the next seven months.' Don't be fooled. He's tricked hundreds of people with that offer. If you accept that offer and resign, he'll stiff you," he added.
