Fork Directive: A Misleading and Coercive Offer to Federal Employees

The "Fork Directive," an ultimatum sent to federal employees by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on January 28, 2025, has sparked outrage and confusion among the federal workforce. The email, titled "Fork in the Road," offers employees a deferred resignation program, which allows them to resign by February 6 and receive pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, regardless of their daily workload. However, the offer has been criticized as misleading, coercive, and potentially illegal.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE Local 3707, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) have filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Massachusetts, seeking to halt the February 6 deadline and require the government to articulate a lawful policy. The complaint alleges that the "Fork Directive" violates the federal Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious and for exceeding statutory authority under the Antideficiency Act.

The lawsuit argues that the "Fork Directive" is an unlawful, short-fused ultimatum that workers may not be able to enforce. The offer promises paid leave through September 30, 2025, but the funds to do so have not been appropriated. Additionally, the complaint describes FAQs made available promoting the "Fork Directive" that are misleading, such as assertions that workers would be free to accept other jobs after resigning, despite longstanding federal ethics regulations placing numerous restrictions on outside employment opportunities for current federal workers.

The lawsuit seeks to protect the integrity of the government and prevent union members from being tricked into resigning from the federal service. Federal employees should not be misled by slick talk from unelected billionaires and their lackeys, as the deferred resignation scheme is unfunded, unlawful, and comes with no guarantees. The administration must be held accountable for this unlawful directive, and the courts should act swiftly to examine unlawful ultimatums and protect federal employees.



The "Fork Directive" is a blatant attempt to undermine the merit-based foundation of our civil service and replace qualified professionals with partisan loyalists at the expense of the American people. Federal employees deserve more than one-sided ultimatums and misleading schemes. The courts should act swiftly to examine unlawful ultimatums and protect our federal employees.