Employees at the U.S. Department of Education were advised not to accept President Trump’s resignation offer just before the February 6 deadline, according to several news sources.
Recently, the Trump administration proposed a buyout for full-time federal workers. If employees resigned by February 6, they could leave with a financial incentive. Officials estimated that 5-10% might take the buyout, potentially saving taxpayers around $100 billion.
During a Zoom meeting, education department officials mentioned that the government could withdraw the offer or stop payments. Employees who accepted the buyout would also give up their legal rights. Staff were informed they had until Thursday evening to decide, but they would only see the terms after agreeing to resign.
A spokesperson from the Office of Personnel Management, which distributed the buyout memo, dismissed the concerns. They referred to the memo, which states that the government must uphold its commitments. If the government backtracks, an employee could request to rescind their resignation.
However, the same memo specifies that the agreement cannot be reversed unless the agency head decides otherwise, and this decision cannot be appealed. Officials also indicated that this buyout offer is a one-time opportunity and hinted at possible future employee cuts.
The meeting raised worries among staff, with one employee questioning the impact if the Education Department were to shut down—a promise made by Trump during his campaign.
One official shared that morale was low after the meeting, noting that communication had stalled as employees felt disheartened. “It’s like the life has been sucked out of them,” said the official.
Federal labor unions and Democratic attorneys general have cautioned workers that they may not receive the promised benefits, calling these buyouts a pressure tactic to encourage resignations.
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