The “deferred resignation programme” would allow federal employees to remain on the payroll through September 30 but without having to work in person and possibly having their duties reduced or eliminated in the meantime, according to an email sent to federal employees.
The email gives federal employees until February 6 to decide whether to take part. It instructed interested employees to reply to the email from a government account and type the word “resign.
The offer covers civilian employees except those in immigration and national security-related positions and people working for the US Postal Service. The unprecedented move comes as Republican President Donald Trump has used his early days in office to shrink, purge and remake the US federal government to conform to his political priorities.
There are about 2.3 million US civilian employees, excluding the Postal Service. Security-related agencies account for the bulk of the federal workforce, but hundreds of thousands of people work across the country in jobs overseeing veterans’ healthcare, inspecting agriculture and paying the government’s bills, among other jobs.
The share of federal employees as a percentage of the full non-farm workforce, now under 2%, has been on the decline for decades.
The email said the administration expects to see a “more streamlined and flexible workforce.” While the military and some agencies are likely to increase the size of their staff, the majority of agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings and layoffs, the email said, and warned that federal employees could not be guaranteed of their jobs.
“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity,” the email said. “The reform of the federal workforce will be significant.”
