Attorney General Ellison and 11 other attorneys general warn federal employees about misleading buyout offer

February 3, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) – Attorney General Ellison today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general warning federal employees about the Trump administration’s misleading “deferred resignation” program, which offers federal employees pay through September 30, 2025 if they resign by February 6.

"I urge Minnesotans who work for the federal government to be extremely cautious when it comes to the Trump Administration's buyout offer," said Attorney General Ellison. "The benefits being offered are not guaranteed. Furthermore, this buyout is being offered by someone with contempt for much of the important work our federal government does and for the people who do it. I recommend federal employees listen to the guidance of their unions, whose job it is to protect the rights and economic well-being of their members."

On January 28, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to millions of federal employees detailing a new deferred resignation program. Employees were told that if they accept the offer and resign, they would continue receiving all pay and benefits, and be exempt from in-person work requirements until September 30. OPM sent another email to federal employees on January 30 reiterating the offer and urging them to find “higher productivity” jobs outside of government. The OPM emails instructed employees that they have until February 6 to decide to remain in their position or resign under the deferred resignation program, and warned that those who did not resign were not guaranteed to keep their jobs.

Immediately following OPM’s email, unions representing federal employees warned their members against accepting the offer. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employees union, released information for its members warning them that employees who accepted the offer were not guaranteed its benefits. The National Federation of Federal Employees similarly warned its members against accepting the offer.

Joining Attorney General Ellison in issuing the warning to federal employees are the attorneys general of New York, Hawaii, New Jersey Connecticut, Vermont, Washington, Michigan, Arizona, Maryland, California, and Delaware.