Yes. Employees accepted into the 2025 Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) were to remain federal employees and receive pay and benefits while on paid administrative leave during the deferred resignation period. The offer ended no later than September 30, 2025, or earlier if the employee chose to separate sooner. It is no longer an open offer in 2026.
How the paid-leave offer worked
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent its “Fork in the Road” email to federal employees on January 28, 2025. The program terms said participants would keep receiving pay and benefits during the deferred resignation period. Agencies could adjust their duties or place them on paid administrative leave. OPM’s February 4, 2025 memorandum stated that an employee would remain on paid administrative leave through September 30, 2025, or an earlier date if the employee chose to resign or otherwise separate from federal service.
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Read the original OPM email and the February 4, 2025 OPM memorandum for the program terms.
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OPM’s DRP frequently asked questions said participants continued to accrue both annual and sick leave until separation. The two types of leave were treated differently when employment ended:
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| Leave type | During the deferred resignation period | At separation |
|---|---|---|
| Annual leave | Continued to accrue until separation, according to OPM’s DRP FAQ. | Accrued, unused annual leave was to be paid in a lump sum, according to OPM’s DRP FAQ. |
| Sick leave | Continued to accrue until separation, according to OPM’s DRP FAQ. | Unused sick leave generally is not paid as cash at federal separation, under OPM’s general separation guidance. |
What to check if you participated
The program-wide terms do not establish how every individual’s payroll or leave account was ultimately recorded. If you need to confirm your own pay, leave accrual, payout, or separation date, check your agency’s payroll and personnel records and any individual agreement. OPM’s administrative-leave guidance provides general context, but your agency records determine your individual accounting.
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