The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently sent a startling email to nearly three million federal employees, offering them deferred resignations, a move that has been met with widespread condemnation. The email, titled "Fork in the Road," echoes a similarly phrased communication sent to Twitter employees in 2022 when Elon Musk acquired the company. It warns federal workers that staying on might result in layoffs or reassignments. The controversial email outlines four pillars of a "reformed federal workforce," which critics argue are either misleading or already standard in government employment.
Federal employees and their advocates have denounced the email as a "scam built on a Musk template," criticizing its tone and intent. The email lists "enhanced standards of conduct," "merit-based hiring," "streamlined processes," and "flexible work arrangements" as foundational elements of the reformed workforce. However, these pillars have been characterized by some employees as redundant or deceptive. A federal employee expressed frustration, stating, "It’s already expected that we, as feds, do not take bribes, uphold laws, and are held to higher standards of conduct outside of normal American expectations."
The Trump administration's attempt to reduce the federal workforce has sparked alarm about its potential impact on essential services provided by government agencies. Federal employees play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, assisting veterans and seniors, and maintaining food and water safety. Max Stier, a prominent advocate for civil servants, criticized the administration's efforts, saying, "The Trump administration’s recent efforts to encourage the bulk of the federal workforce to resign are perplexing, of questionable legality and dangerous."
The email's tone has galvanized many federal workers, strengthening their resolve to remain in their positions despite the tumultuous climate. A federal employee observed, "This reaction I’m seeing has gone from a ‘I might have to leave my stable job that I love because it’s chaotic and targeted’ to a sense of ‘fuck you, I’m not leaving’. This email has started solidifying the resolve of the federal workforce." Another employee added, “They don’t have the authority to offer this to people. They don’t have the funding; they are not to be trusted. They just want us out.”
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, voiced concerns that the administration's actions could create "a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to." He further warned of the broader implications: "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."
The OPM's new chief of staff, Amanda Scales, previously employed at one of Elon Musk's companies, has added to suspicions that the email's language and tone are linked to Musk's corporate strategies. This connection has fueled concerns about the "department of government efficiency" efforts sanctioned by Donald Trump. As part of these efforts, federal workers brace themselves for further chaos and unpredictability.
The Partnership for Public Service has also raised alarms about the administration's strategy. Max Stier remarked, "Americans rely on federal workers to fly safely, help veterans and seniors access their benefits, keep our food and water safe, protect public health, respond to natural disasters, and maintain the rule of law. Stripping away expert talent through such a non-strategic approach puts all of us at risk in a profound way.”