This letter does not say severance. It is deferred resignation. During the 'notice period' of 8 months, as far as I can tell the only definite derogation is that there will be no return to office required during those 8 months.
While I'm sure some people will end up with gardening leave for those 8 months, it's not guaranteed by the letter (my emphasis):
> If you resign under this program, you [..] will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025
> I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
> I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks
Seems AP are reporting on this exact same thing, I'm not sure why their read is that this is a 'buy out' or 'severance'. All it is is a waiver of Return To Office for 8 months provided you resign at the end of those 8 months.
"Employees who accept deferred resignation should promptly have their duties re-assigned or eliminated and be placed on paid administrative leave until the end of the deferred resignation period (generally, September 30, 2025, unless the employee has elected another earlier resignation date), unless the agency head determines that it is necessary for the employee to be actively engaged in transitioning job duties, in which case employees should be placed on administrative leave as soon as those duties are transitioned."
While I'm sure some people will end up with gardening leave for those 8 months, it's not guaranteed by the letter (my emphasis):
> If you resign under this program, you [..] will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025
> I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
> I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks
Seems AP are reporting on this exact same thing, I'm not sure why their read is that this is a 'buy out' or 'severance'. All it is is a waiver of Return To Office for 8 months provided you resign at the end of those 8 months.