The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is doubling down on its efforts to slim the federal workforce. They just added a deferred resignation offer – Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA). Allegedly, that means eligible feds who were eyeing the exit can now walk away early with full VERA benefits—if they take the deal. OPM’s acting director, Chuck Ezell, assured employees that the governmentwide deferred resignation offer is “valid, lawful, and will be honored”, even as skepticism runs high. For those ready to say goodbye, the deadline of February 6 looms.
Federal Employment Attorney John Berry is advising federal employee clients to seriously consider the risks before accepting OPM’s resignation offer. He says that the offer is appealing to many, but it involves a leap of faith. If something goes wrong with the resignation offer in the courts, it is highly unlikely that the resignation will be rescinded. So the risk to federal employees is that they accept the offer and start on paid administrative leave, but could be at risk of being moved to an unpaid leave status until their resignation date. “It is just too hard to tell what will happen.” Additionally, the sample resignation agreements he has seen require a federal employee to waive all of their rights, including the right to enforce the resignation agreement itself. This leaves federal employees without any recourse if something goes wrong.
Layoffs: USAID
Over 600 USAID employees report being locked out of their computer systems overnight, with many losing their jobs this past week. Elon Musk has been leading a government efficiency review, known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).
The move comes after the administration placed two senior security officials at USAID on leave for refusing to share classified information with Musk’s team. USAID’s website was also taken offline over the weekend. It all adds uncertainty for the agency’s future. The full scope of USAID’s future operations remains unclear.
Hiring: L3Harris
L3Harris is on a hiring spree, with 400 positions open across the country for professionals with security clearances at all levels. L3Harris has been vocal about modernizing national security, with CEO Christopher Kubasik recently urging the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline defense acquisition and accelerate innovation. The company’s focus? Fusing AI, software, and hardware to give warfighters an edge in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. Whether you specialize in cybersecurity, engineering, or intelligence, now is the time to explore L3Harris opportunities.
Cleared Employer at Work: ClearanceJobs
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Opportunity to Watch
The landscape for U.S. government contractors is shifting. With many new Executive Orders, the different moves could reshape everything from DEI requirements and climate policies to labor protections and procurement rules. One major shake-up? The revocation of Executive Order 11246, effectively ending decades of affirmative action obligations for federal contractors. Meanwhile, a new certification requirement under the Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Order is raising eyebrows. It ties compliance directly to False Claims Act risks—potentially opening the door to whistleblower lawsuits. The big takeaway? Contractors must stay sharp, review policies, and track agency guidance. What’s written in an Executive Order today could evolve.
