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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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Employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who accepted the Trump Administration's "deferred resignation" offer are now being informed that they must remain on the job, according to a new report.
The IRS has deemed some of their roles "essential" for the current tax filing season, per the report, leading to concerns among staff about the terms of their departure.
The report was published on Wednesday by Federal News Network, a news site covering policies affecting federal employees.
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The IRS told Newsweek on Friday that the move to keep some employees on the job is in relation to "specific, critical filing season positions."
Why It Matters
The offer of deferred resignation applied to the majority of 3 million U.S. government employees, excluding military personnel. A reduction in federal workforce numbers has the potential to disrupt essential government services, ranging from military organizations to the IRS.
What To Know
Federal employees had been given until February 6 to accept the offer, which promised placement on paid administrative leave with compensation.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) assured workers that accepting the offer would allow them to seek other employment or take vacations, while still receiving up to eight months of pay from their previous federal positions.
However, some employees at the IRS have been told that they will need to continue to work, despite taking the offer, according to a news report.
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According to Federal News Network, a contract template shared by the OPM with agency heads indicates that employees who accept the deal agree to remain on duty through February 28, with paid administrative leave commencing on March 1.
This contrasts with information on OPM's frequently asked questions page, which states that employees would not be required to work during the deferred resignation period.
FNN cited one IRS processing center worker as saying:"I want the deal that OPM offered. If I can't have that deal, I guess it'll be four months [paid leave]. But my question now is, come May 15, is that even a viable option?"
When contacted by Newsweek, the IRS provided an email shared with all IRS employees on February 5, which reads: "The Secretary of the Treasury has determined that specific, critical filing season positions in Taxpayer Services, Information Technology and the Taxpayer Advocate Service are exempt from the DRP until May 15, 2025.
"Exempt employees whose positions are deemed critical are required to remain working through at least May 15, 2025, even if they respond to the OPM email by the February 6 deadline. Employees in these positions who have already accepted the DRP offer will be contacted with further instructions about when to return to work."
What People Are Saying
In a letter to the OPM, Democrat Congressman Steny Hoyer said: "Federal workers take an oath to defend the Constitution and to work on behalf of the American people. OPM's legally dubious and intentionally misleading offer is a disservice to these dedicated men and women, and it should be retracted immediately.
"If federal workers are enticed or coerced to accept this 'offer,' the services that average Americans rely on will be undermined.
A spokesperson for the OPM told FNN: "This is a rare, generous opportunity — one that was thoroughly vetted and intentionally designed to support employees through restructuring. Instead of spreading misinformation and using workers as political pawns, they should be making sure federal employees have the facts and freedom to make the best decision for themselves and their families."
What Happens Next
The Trump administration is continuing to identify areas in which federal spending could be reduced, including the reduction of USAID and the Department of Education.
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