Attorney General James and Eleven Attorneys General Warn Federal Employees about Misleading Buyout Offer
New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 11 attorneys general in warning federal employees about the Trump administration’s misleading “deferred resignation” program. The program offers federal employees pay through September 30, 2025, if they resign by February 6, but lacks guaranteed protections.
“From keeping our communities safe to ensuring Americans have access to health care, housing, and other vital services, the millions of workers who staff the federal government play essential roles in all of our lives,” said Attorney General James. “President Trump’s so-called buyout offers are nothing more than the latest attack on federal workers and the services they provide. These supposed offers are not guaranteed. Federal employees should be cautious and follow the guidance of their unions to protect their rights. Attacking our federal workforce will only cause more chaos and confusion for Americans and diminish the quality of services our government provides. We will continue to fight back against any attempt to jeopardize the federal support and programs our states’ residents rely on.”
On January 28, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to millions of federal employees detailing a new deferred resignation program. Employees were told that if they accepted the offer and resigned, they would continue receiving full pay and benefits and be exempt from in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025. The OPM reiterated this offer in a January 30 email, urging employees to seek “higher productivity” jobs outside of government. The emails warned that those who did not resign were not guaranteed job security.
Immediately following these emails, unions representing federal employees advised their members against accepting the offer. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employees union, warned members that employees who accepted the offer were not guaranteed its benefits. The National Federation of Federal Employees issued similar guidance to its members.
This is the latest effort by Attorney General James to safeguard federal services and resources relied upon by New Yorkers. On January 28, she led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to block a freeze on the majority of federal funds to states. On January 31, a federal judge granted the states’ motion for a temporary restraining order to stop the funding freeze from taking effect.
Joining Attorney General James in warning federal employees are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington.