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The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is set to empower federal agencies to initiate early retirement offers alongside the controversial “deferred resignations” option made available this week. This move is part of an ongoing effort by the administration to persuade federal employees to leave their positions, a tactic that has spurred considerable debate and concern among workers and advocacy groups.
Despite a continuing wave of confusion regarding the legal and practical implications of these initiatives, federal agencies have reached out to employees to clarify the nature of the buyout offers. In an email to Justice Department employees, assurances were made regarding the legality and validity of the offerings. “OPM assures the federal workforce that the offer is valid, lawful and will be honored,” the correspondence indicated. Acceptance of the deferred resignation would also guarantee pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, shielding employees from immediate job loss.
Federal agencies have indicated that they are seeking permission to provide Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) to those who opt for the deferred resignation. To qualify, employees must meet criteria that include being at least 50 years old with a minimum of 20 years of service, or having 25 years of service irrespective of age. An OPM representative confirmed that such authorities will be distributed across the government.
Furthermore, emails circulated via a new OPM communication platform referred employees to an updated FAQ section on the agency’s website. Among various responses, one notable statement encouraged individuals to pursue private sector employment, suggesting a shift from public sector jobs deemed less productive. “We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you would like to do so,” the email noted.
However, significant ambiguity persists regarding which federal personnel can accept the deferred resignation offer. Initial guidelines outlined exemptions for employees in national security and immigration enforcement roles. This has led to specific exclusions, such as those from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, whose staff members are deemed ineligible. Additionally, the Social Security Administration clarified that the majority of its workforce would be unable to take advantage of either the deferred resignation or early retirement options.
The Defense Department refrained from providing comments regarding the status of civilian employees in relation to these offers.
Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, expressed her concerns during a recent press conference, stating that the administration’s tactics appear to be counterproductive. “It has made people angry,” she asserted, noting that the portrayal of federal work as low productivity has only intensified frustrations among staffers.
Eric Katz contributed to this report.
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