After President Donald Trump offered a buyout for federal workers, one employee who works at a federal agency decided to take the deal — and has not heard back, despite the deadline being Thursday. The employee shared their experience with ABC News on Monday.
The “Fork in the Road” program offers federal employees the option to resign but continue receiving pay until September. The move is part of an attempt by the Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk to shrink the government. Some experts have said this move would be illegal because it is promising funds for a budget that Congress has not yet approved.
"This is happening," the anonymous employee thought when they decided to resign. "I was scared, nervous, and excited all at the same time. Thought about it for a day I think. ... And I just told myself that I'm going to do it."
They emailed the word “resign,” following the Office of Personnel Management’s instructions. They soon got a response: "We received your email response. We will reply shortly."
Almost a week later, the employee has not heard anything else, and the deadline is fast approaching.
Colleagues at their agency, they said, have been confused about the deal. Management, they said, had been silent; when they told management about their decision to resign, management apparently did not respond. The worker went to management again, and they were told “they should have waited for more guidance before accepting the offer,” ABC News’ Will Steakin wrote. Management also told them that they would still have to do their job after they resigned, although they later walked back that claim.
Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that this program is a way to get people back into the workforce.
"We're all here at work, at the office," Leavitt said. "There are law enforcement officers and teachers and nurses across the country who showed up to the office today. People in this city need to do the same. It's an overwhelmingly popular policy with people outside of Washington, D.C."
Some experts have suggested that taking a second job would violate ethics rules.
The worker said that they had been considering quitting for some time. "I've been telling myself for the last five years that I was going to quit. But it's a good job, I like the job. ... I love my job,” they told ABC News.
They added: "This is just the nudge that I needed to take that leap.”
