Article Text

More than 50,000 federal employees in Fairfax County faced an uncertain choice after an unexpected “Fork in the Road” email landed in government inboxes nationwide on Jan. 28.

The message, reportedly sent to more than 2 million federal workers, told employees they could remain in their jobs and comply with new workplace reforms, including returning to the office, or resign. Those accepting the offer were instructed to put “Resign” in the subject line of an email and were promised eight months of pay and benefits while on leave.

Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, spoke out as concern spread through the federal workforce.

Reading an open letter on the Senate floor Feb. 4, Kaine acknowledged the pressure employees were experiencing and accused the Trump administration of blocking their work, restricting speech and locking some employees out of federal buildings.

Kaine also challenged the legitimacy of the resignation offer.

“Donald Trump has no authority to offer you a resignation buyout,” he said, warning federal workers not to trust that the agreement would be honored.

The average federal employee earns $106,382 annually, according to the Pew Research Center. Half of federal workers earn between $50,000 and $109,999 a year.

Warner said more people were beginning to recognize what was at stake and speak out. He expressed hope that the growing response would influence some of his Republican colleagues, adding that supporters of federal workers remained “in the fight.”

The offer’s timeline was disrupted Feb. 6 when U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. temporarily suspended the Office of Personnel Management’s deadline. OPM later said employees had until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 10 to decide whether to resign and continue receiving pay through the end of September.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association also warned that federal workers remained vulnerable without enforceable protections against politically motivated dismissals.

The association urged people to contact lawmakers in support of the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R. 492 and S. 134. The legislation would prevent the return of Schedule F and protect the merit-based system underlying the nonpartisan federal workforce.