California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 12 attorneys general, has issued a warning to federal employees regarding the Trump Administration's "deferred resignation" program. This initiative offers federal employees continued pay through September 30, 2025, if they resign by February 6, 2025. The proposal has raised concerns among unions representing federal workers who caution that accepting the offer does not guarantee the promised benefits.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized the crucial role federal employees play in providing essential services to Americans and contributing to California's economy. He described the buyout offer as an attempt to disrupt the federal workforce and urged employees to heed union warnings about such offers.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent emails on January 28 and January 30 outlining the deferred resignation program. The communication assured employees of continued pay and benefits while exempting them from in-person work until September 30 if they resigned. However, it also warned that those choosing not to resign might not retain their jobs.
Unions like the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Federation of Federal Employees quickly advised their members against accepting this offer due to uncertainties about its benefits.
The attorneys general joining Bonta in this advisory include representatives from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington.