I have seen multiple reports that some Social Security employees have received a new “fork in the road” email offering incentives for them to resign and an implied threat of firing if they don’t take the offer. I have no idea how many agency employees received these messages. It’s obvious that they want to reduce staffing but don’t want to be seen as firing people.
28 comments:
You hit the nail on the head. Firing opens up lawsuits. Anything voluntary does not.
The person writing the email did not proof read it before sending. And the sent from address reads like a newb set it up.
HQ employees only
The text of said email:
A Message to All SSA Employees
Subject: Deferred Retirement/Resignation Program – Second Chance - Open Until April 25 at Noon
On January 28, 2025, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management sent an email to federal employees presenting a deferred resignation offer. That offer closed February 12, 2025.
We are presenting another opportunity for HQ employees in a non-mission critical position to voluntarily separate by way of deferred retirement or resignation through the Deferred Retirement/Resignation Program – Second Chance (DRP2). Only Headquarters employees in a non-mission critical position are eligible for DRP2. If you've agreed to a voluntary reassignment offer to a mission critical position, you are ineligible for DRP2. Employees participating in DRP2 will begin paid administrative leave on May 5, 2025, and must separate from the agency by September 30, 2025.
How to Apply
To be considered for DRP2, you must complete and submit the electronic sign-up form by Friday, April 25, 2025 at Noon EDT.
Sign Up Here: Deferred Retirement/Resignation Program – Second Chance
The Office of Human Resources will review submissions and determine eligibility. If you are found eligible, you will receive a DRP2 agreement that must be signed and submitted by April 28, 2025 at 5 PM EDT.
Key Benefits of DRP 2
Paid administrative leave beginning on May 5, 2025.
Continued government pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, without any expectation of performing work beyond May 5, 2005.
Assurance of exemption from any future agency reductions-in-force (RIF).
Please visit https://www.opm.gov/fork for additional information. Although OPM’s DRP is closed, the information in the Original Email to Employees and Frequently Asked Questions may be helpful. Employees participating in DRP2 may not extend their separation date beyond September 30, 2025.
My understanding is it went out agency-wide, but only people in Central Office in “non mission-critical” positions are eligible. No idea who is considered mission critical and who is not in CO.
There was no implied threat of firing. Just said said exempt from a RIF. Well sure, resigning not going to RIF you
I got one but they can suck it
People who leave voluntarily with fIve months paid in advance, don't sue to get their jobs back.
They know any RIF will become a major headline. The AARP membership is already going ape sh*t. Old people get mad easy, hate waiting AND vote. They don't call it the Third Rail for nothing.
Just end this clown show and let us get back to focusing on our work for the American public.
The agency doesn’t know who is mission critical either. That’s why the email says they’ll evaluate your eligibility if you apply, rather than let you know in advance whether you’re eligible. Another Musk/Dudek fail job.
Not a very strong reader, eh? Suggesting that not being fired is a benefit of the program is plainly an implied threat of termination.
I’m in HQ but recently switched to a mission critical position. I didn't receive this email.
What is the complaining about ? If right for your situation take it, if not then don't.
Thanks for the pseudocode, Elon! As soon as we can port that over to Cobol, we'll give you an answer.
Colleagues, if you did not sign up for reassignment but are contemplating the DRP, ask your supervisor where you stand. The new SAC codes and reorganization data was accidentally sent to OrgChart for several hours today and yesterday. Many people who didn’t sign up for reassignment had been assigned to new positions. At least a half a dozen of my close colleagues across the agency had no idea until they checked OrgChart. A banner is up now saying HR data has been removed but if you need more info and are contemplating retirement, ask some questions now. I sure am.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/04/dudek-calls-entire-ssa-offices-be-converted-new-schedule-f/404755/?oref=ge-featured-river-top
To add insult to injury all offices that make disability determinations and other important systems and Ops components will be reclassified as schedule F https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/04/dudek-calls-entire-ssa-offices-be-converted-new-schedule-f/404755/
HQ employees including OGC. Between reassignments and early outs, I wonder how many program litigation attorneys will even be left. Will judges and plaintiff attorneys have any patience for the impact this will have on the agency’s caseload?
I looked around OrgChart today because I heard there was an issue but did not see anything strange with mine or others info. I saw reassignment folks had their new positions but that's it.
According to a source familiar with Musk's thinking who spoke to the Washington Post on condition of anonymity, the unelected billionaire is ready to leave Donald Trump's administration because he's grown weary of "attacks" from the "left."
The multi-hyphenate business owner believes, per WaPo's insider, that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will continue to do its important "work" gutting federal agencies, and won't be harmed by his exit. Whether or not that's true remains to be seen, though as another anonymous insider told the newspaper, the "results speak for themselves."
"No one can say DOGE has not achieved a historic amount of success," said the senior White House official — conveniently ignoring the fact that Musk retreated from his promise to excise $2 trillion from the budget to a borderline-meaningless $150 billion.
Rats and roaches are the first to leave for higher grounds during a disaster. I’m sure Musk wants to distant himself for the next opportunity
Also in our email inboxes- one hilarious request from a reassigned HQ employee to change jobs sent to the entire DCO email list, along with the predictable several dozen "take me off this list" response, and increasingly aggravated QUIT RESPONDING TO THIS MESSAGE directions.
Leland has in his action plan a blanket purchase agreement for litigation attorneys so he can get rid of SSA litigation attorneys.
Workforce reductions were apparent for a long time, if not enough left on their own. The email stating that a person is at risk if they stay is stating the obvious. Dont overthink
Hahaha. I wish I had it. Was it just DCO management or also FO etc?
Is he planning on cutting out the USAO? They litigate for us.
Jesus what a dumbf***. Private sector attorneys who can do the work don’t exist, and if and when they do, there isn’t a chance in hell they’ll cost even less than double what the agency is paying its (grossly underpaid) OGC program lit staff.
Well there are a bunch of trained ones that are suddenly available now
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