Education Department Officials Warn Staff About Deferred Resignation Risks
Education Department officials informed staff about risks in the deferred resignation program, warning that accepting it could leave employees without promised pay if the agreement is rescinded.
Top officials at the Education Department informed staff during a Zoom meeting that if they accept the Trump administration's deferred resignation package, the education secretary may later cancel it, leaving employees without promised pay and without recourse.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent notifications to federal employees last week, stating that those who resign by Thursday would continue to receive pay and benefits until the end of September. The administration aims to reduce the federal workforce by as much as 10%.
During the all-staff meeting, Rachel Oglesby, the department's new chief of staff, and Jacqueline Clay, its chief human capital officer, highlighted significant caveats associated with the Fork in the Road offer, according to three unnamed officials who participated in the meeting.
The education secretary would have the ability to rescind the resignation agreement, and should the government stop payment, employees who accepted the deferred resignation package would waive all legal claims. The officials reported that they had only seen sample resignation agreements so far and needed to agree to resign by Thursday evening before viewing the actual terms.
One participant likened the meeting's presentation to a "commercial for a used car dealership." The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment regarding the matter.
A spokesperson for the OPM stated that the previous claims were false and referenced a memo indicating that the resignation package's assurances are binding on the government. However, the memo included language allowing agency heads to retain sole discretion to rescind the agreements, and employees would waive the right to contest these decisions.
The declining morale among federal workers was echoed by attendees. Concerns about transparency and reliability of the deferred resignation program have been escalated by mounting pressure from the Trump administration.
More than 40,000 employees have opted into the buyout offer to date, impacting an overall workforce of over 2 million.
A significant backlash has emerged from labor unions and Democratic attorneys general who are suing to halt the program, asserting that the Trump administration lacks the legal authority to provide such incentives.
The Education Department prepares for further staffing changes, including layoffs, as the new administration under Trump assesses potential restructuring efforts amid criticisms regarding constitutional violations and possible executive overreach.
Trump's intention to dismantle the Education Department has been a long-standing goal of the Republican party, with discussions surrounding feasible executive actions during his presidency.
