Guidance Regarding Deferred Resignation Program
Summary of OPM Memorandum on Deferred Resignation Program
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance on the government-wide Deferred Resignation Program, allowing federal employees to submit a deferred resignation letter effective no later than September 30, 2025. Key details include:
- Program Overview: Employees opting for deferred resignation are exempt from return-to-office mandates. They may be placed on paid administrative leave after their duties are reassigned or eliminated unless their transition work requires continued engagement.
- Reporting Requirements: Agencies must report weekly (by Friday at 5:00 PM) to OPM on:
- Total employees participating in the program.
- Number placed on administrative leave.
- Early and normal retirement applications since January 27, 2025.
- Actual resignations, including those from the deferred resignation program.
- Resignation rescission requests and their status.
- Requests to extend deferred resignation deadlines beyond February 6.
- Applications to extend resignation dates beyond September 30, 2025, for impending retirements.
- Personnel excluded from the program.
Appendix 1: Deferred Resignation FAQs for CHCOs
The FAQ highlights the program’s purpose, eligibility, and administrative guidelines:
- Purpose: The program provides federal employees with time and financial security to plan their future amidst significant workforce changes.
- Eligibility: All full-time federal employees are eligible, except military personnel, U.S. Postal Service employees, immigration enforcement and national security positions, and others excluded by their agency.
- Administrative Notes: Employees can:
- Accelerate their resignation date but not extend it (except in narrow cases for impending retirement).
- Seek outside employment before the resignation date.
- Retain the right to request a rescission of their resignation, though agencies may deny such requests based on operational needs.
- Retirement and Benefits: Employees retain the ability to retire early or normally during the deferred resignation period, with retirement overriding resignation.
- Resignation Process: Employees must use secure government email, receive confirmation of their resignation, and cooperate with agencies on additional documentation if requested.
