‘Back to office or you’re fired!’: Donald Trump issues final warning to federal employees
White House has mandated that federal employees return to in-person work by 6 February 2025. Employees who do not comply must resign under a «deferred resignation programme,» which allows them to leave with full pay and benefits until 30 September 2025. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed that workers opting for resignation would be placed on administrative leave and would no longer be required to perform their duties.
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Programme Details and Expected Impact
The federal government employs approximately 2 million workers, and the administration estimates that up to 200,000 employees—about 10% of the workforce—could accept the resignation offer. The administration claims only 6% of federal employees currently work full-time in offices, although the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reported in August 2024 that 54% of employees work fully on-site. Another 46% have a hybrid work arrangement, spending an average of 61% of their time in offices. Only 10% are in fully remote roles.
Employees who choose to resign will be exempt from in-person work requirements but will continue to receive their regular pay and benefits until their final resignation date. The programme will not be available to personnel in the military, the U.S. Postal Service, immigration enforcement, national security, or other positions specifically excluded by their agencies.
