The headquarters of the US employee management office appear on February 3, 2025 in Washington, DC
Kevin Lietsch/Getty Images North America
Hide the explanatory name
Switch the explanatory name
Kevin Lietsch/Getty Images North America
A week has passed since nearly 2.3 million civilian employees in the federal government have been presented an offer: agree to resign from your job by February 6 and keep your salary and advantages until the end of September.
Now, with the deadline for accepting the near offer, federal agencies have sent new terms and provisions in the form of a sample contract agreement that employees can be informed that can be used to “commemorate” the deal. It is not clear from the government to sign agreements, or whether the contracts will be legally binding.
In addition to confusion, some of the sample language deviates from First emailWhich came from the US Personnel Management Office (OPM) with the subject line “Thorn in the Road”, and the other directives submitted so far.
Employees who take the deal are expected to work during February 28
For example, some of the sample contracts that were sent to the fact that employees who accept the “thorn” offer agreed to work during February 28, to ensure a smooth transition of duties, and they will be placed on a paid administrative leave no later than March 1. .
This is the first male of any such dates related to the “thorn” offer.
The original e -mail did not show that the employees who resign will have been necessarily placed on an administrative vacation at all. Common questions were later posted on OPM The agencies share the question: “Is it expected that I will work in my government job during the postponed resignation period?” The presented answer is simply “No.”
Even the notes that were sent with the sample contract agreements summarize the deferred resignation offer as allowing qualified employees to “maintain their governmental salaries and benefits until September 30, 2025, without any expectation to perform the work.”
Acknowledgment that agencies do not have guaranteed financing last March
In a great exit from the joint language earlier, the sample contract agreement that came out on Monday to the Environmental Protection Agency employees includes a language that appears to be acknowledged that federal agencies do not have the content of the content of the past on March 14, when the recent Congress Budget Agreement ends.
“Taking into account the availability of credits, the employee remains on a paid administrative leave through September 30, 2025, or this previous date in which the employee may choose to resign or separate from the federal service,” says the language of the contract.
Lawyers, federal employees, members of Congress and other federal employees have warned that the promise of wages and benefits after March 14 is not guaranteed.
“It is important to know that, at the present time, the federal government is funded only until March 14, 2025,” wrote Senator Patti Murray, the Democrats of the Senate Credit Committee, in an email. “At this stage, there is no Funding for agencies to pay employees in exchange for this offer. “
Additional warnings added to the deal
Another warning that has been added in the sample contract agreements addresses whether employees who accept the deferred resignation can take another job before September 30.
OPM’s common questions tell employees: “Certainly! We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you want to do so. The way to great American prosperity is to encourage people to move from low productivity functions in the public sector to the highest productivity functions in the private sector.”
The new language shows that employees must comply with the rules of ethics, which in some agencies require prior approval of external employment.
In another section, employees are required to give up their right to “follow up through any judicial, administrative or other process, that is, action against [AGENCY] This depends, emerging or related to employing the employee in [AGENCY] Or the deferred resignation ” – and the compromise of any claim that can be submitted on their behalf by a labor union or another entity.
Lawyers warn of a “misleading” offer
On Monday, the Democratic Public Prosecutor issued ten states, including New York, Michigan, Arizona and California, a statement calling for a deferred resignation “misleading”.
“The acquisitions called President Trump is nothing more than the latest attack on federal workers and the services they provide. These supposed offers are not guaranteed,” wrote in a statement. “Federal employees should be cautious and follow their union guidelines to protect their rights.”
On Monday, the Trump administration pushed back against some criticism, on the pretext that the union leaders and their lawyers cancel the damage of their members.
“This is a rare and generous opportunity – it was completely examined and intentionally designed to support employees by restructuring,” said Malcilin Benove, an OPM spokesman. “Instead of spreading wrong information and using workers as political pandeh, they should make sure that federal employees have the facts and freedom to make the best decision for themselves and their families.”