Federal authority over the Voluntary Early Retirement Authorship (VERA) will be extended to all government agencies, amid ongoing uncertainty over the deferred resignation program.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has confirmed that it will grant federal agencies the authority to offer a deferred resignation program to eligible workers. This program, initially described as a "buyout," has been clarified as legal and valid.
Under the deferred resignation offer, eligible workers must be 50 years old with at least 20 years of service or have at least 25 years of service with no age requirement. Those who accept the offer will receive pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, without facing a reduction-in-force or other premature separation.
Notably, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the entire staff of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are exempt from the deferred resignation offer. The Defense Department has declined to comment about whether civilian employees are exempt from accepting deferred resignations.
The Social Security Administration, due to being at a 50-year staffing low and having restricted hiring, has informed its employees that the majority cannot take part in the deferred resignation or early retirement program. Workers at understaffed agencies such as the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic controllers have not received similar guidance from leadership regarding the deferred resignation program.
The program's eligibility and workings continue to be a source of confusion and concern among federal workers, employee groups, and observers. To address these concerns, OPM has added new answers to an FAQ on its website, encouraging employees to seek private sector employment while on leave.
Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, has stated that Trump and Musk's plan to demoralize federal workers into quitting has instead galvanized them. Powell further mentioned that the deferred resignation program and other measures have made federal workers angry, and they are furious.
At least one region of the Veterans Affairs Department has informed its staff that guidance on the deferred resignation program will be provided to ensure continued healthcare operations. Employees who have already indicated they want to accept the deferred resignation offer and have received confirmation from OPM should continue to work until they hear otherwise from a supervisor, according to the Veterans Affairs Department.
It's important to note that there are no explicit federal authorities in Germany that are legally prohibited from accepting offers for a delayed leave. No specific list or regulation forbidding certain federal agencies from accepting such offers is indicated in the available sources.
As the deferred resignation program continues to unfold, it remains a topic of interest and discussion among federal employees, government agencies, and the public.
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