By Special Press Release
AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) urges federal employees not to take the so-called “deferred resignation” offer being promoted by Elon Musk, because President Trump may not even have the authority to make such an offer, and federal workers who resign may not get paid.
In the latest effort to dismantle the civil service and replace the skilled, professional workforce with unqualified political appointees and for-profit contractors, the Trump administration on Jan. 28 sent a “deferred resignation” offer email to federal employees, urging them to resign by Feb. 6 and claiming they would retain pay and benefits until Sept. 30, 2025. The administration proceeded to threaten those who do not take the offer with restructuring and downsizing. A federal judge blocked the offer last week, but a reported 65,000 federal workers have already resigned. As a result of the federal judge’s motion, Trump extended the deadline for resignations to Feb. 10.
AFGE urges federal workers not to take the Trump administration’s vague offer with conflicting details.
“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,” AFGE said in an email message to members. “We are encouraging AFGE members NOT to resign or respond to this email until you have received further information and clarification.”
Indeed, members of Congress said Trump doesn’t have the authority to even make the offer.
“There’s no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work,” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said on the Senate floor. “Don’t be fooled. He’s tricked hundreds of people with that offer. If you accept that offer and resign, he’ll stiff you just like he stiffed the contractors.”
Kaine was referring to the people who have worked for Trump and his companies, such as carpenters, painters, even his own lawyers, who reported that they were not getting paid. According to a USA Today analysis, there were 3,500 lawsuits filed against Trump for failing to pay his bills over three decades.
In addition, many agencies are only funded through March 14, 2025, raising further questions about the authority of agencies to pay federal workers through September. The “deferred resignation” may also face legal challenges that could change the terms, and it’s unclear whether employees have a legal recourse to appeal and make the government honor the terms.
AFGE has published Frequently Asked Questions about the offer.
This “Fork in the Road deferred resignation” program has Elon Musk’s fingerprints all over it. He offered buyouts to his Twitter employees in 2022 and broke the promise shortly after. They sued, but he won on a jurisdictional issue and workers lost $500 million in severance pay.
Several federal workers are already rejecting the “offer” that they find insulting, determined to stay now more than ever.
“You can’t buy me off, scare me away, or intimidate me into resigning. I’m angry, spiteful, and resolute in holding the line and outlasting anyone trying to destroy the agency whose work I believe in and a mission I take to heart,” one comment said. “My colleagues feel the same way and we’re not leaving, you’ll have to drag us out. We’ll continue to follow [the] mission we’re charged with executing and serving the individuals we’re charged with serving.… We will be here and continue to be here.”
AFGE President Everett Kelley said the number of civil servants hasn’t meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services.
“Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,” he said. “This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration’s goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”
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