The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that over 130 occupations, including most nurses, doctors, and essential support staff, will not be eligible for the Trump administration’s deferred resignation plan one day after the resignation offer expired. The decision, outlined in an internal email sent to VA employees on Friday, aims to prevent mass vacancies that could negatively impact the care of 9.1 million veterans enrolled in VA healthcare programs.
The deferred resignation program, a key initiative in the new administrations broader federal workforce reduction strategy, offers employees pay and benefits through September if they choose to resign. However, the VA has moved swiftly [a day after the resignation window closed on February 7th] to exclude a significant number of positions from eligibility, citing concerns over staffing shortages and continuity of care for veterans.
It is unclear how many critical staff resigned during the resignation time period and whether this is a reaction to the program.
Nurses had initially been included in the buyout offer, but unions strongly advised against their participation, warning that an exodus of healthcare workers could be disastrous for the already strained VA system. The latest email from VA leadership clarifies that most frontline healthcare workers, as well as support roles such as laundry workers and cooks, are ineligible for the program.
AFGE has voiced strong opposition to the resignation offer, citing that it was not negotiated with the union and that no resources have been allocated by Congress to fund the initiative. “We have anticipated participation in the ‘Deferred Resignation’ offer to be minimal. National news reports indicate that approximately 40,000 federal employees have responded to the email offer, which amounts to less than 2% of the workforce. This is a clear indication that the offer lacks widespread support,” said Diana Hicks, AFGE Vice President of District 9.
VA officials confirmed that the agency worked in coordination with the White House and the Office of Personnel Management to determine which roles should be exempt from the resignation plan. “Exempting these occupations from the program will ensure VA continues providing mission-critical health care, benefits, and memorial services to our nation’s veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors,” a VA spokesperson stated.
Despite these exemptions, the program has already faced legal challenges. On Thursday, a federal judge issued a temporary block on the deferred resignation plan, extending the deadline for employee decisions until Monday. The ruling follows concerns from both lawmakers and employee unions that the initiative was rushed and could destabilize essential government functions.
Union leaders remain skeptical about the plan’s overall impact on the VA’s workforce. “Every employee at the VA is crucial, and each individual plays a vital role in delivering essential services to veterans, their families, and caregivers. Every resignation not only delays the critical care we provide but also forces referrals to community, which further hinders timely access to care and resources,” Hicks added.
The buyout program is part of a larger effort by the new administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce, but its implementation has sparked significant controversy. Critics argue that such a plan could lead to service disruptions, particularly in agencies like the VA, which provide critical healthcare and support services.
With a federal court now weighing the legality of the program, the future of the deferred resignation plan remains uncertain. For now, most VA employees—especially those in direct patient care roles—can rest assured that their positions are protected, though the broader implications of the administration’s workforce reduction strategy continue to unfold.
