The US Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday an early retirement option for eligible employees as part of a federal downsizing drive by Trump and Musk. Amid growing tension, staff must submit a DOGE email report outlining weekly achievements without revealing sensitive data, Reuters reported; officials urge swift action.
Reuters obtained emails showing that on Monday, an official from the United States Department of Health and Human Services informed workers that they had 10 days to respond to a request for details on their recent successes and that they may file for early retirement if they so desired.
The so-called Department of Government Efficiency is headed by billionaire Elon Musk and Republican President Donald Trump, who is leading an unprecedented attempt to reduce the government bureaucracy.
In an email to employees, the HHS informed them that it had received Monday authorization to offer early retirement under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. This authority affects agencies that are experiencing significant reorganization, downsizing, restructuring, reshaping, or transfer of function.
Requests for comment were not promptly addressed by an HHS representative.
The website of OMP was pointed out to the employees, and it states that in order to be eligible, one must be at least 50 years old and have twenty years of federal employment, or any age with twenty-five years of service, among other qualifications. According to the email, the deal will be available until 5 pm EST on March 14th.
The management resent the request for five bullet points outlining staff’ achievements over the previous week in an email last week.
It was previously stated that employees at HHS, which encompasses the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were not obligated to answer to DOGE’s emails and that their decision not to react would not affect their employment with the agency.
The FBI and the State Department were just two of many U.S. agencies that have warned their staff not to comply with DOGE’s demand right away.
However, according to an email obtained by Reuters on Monday, HHS instructed staff to reply to DOGE’s email by midnight without disclosing any confidential information, such as the names of medications or technologies they are developing.
Respondents to DOGE’s request could be seen by hostile foreign entities, according to a prior HHS warning. On Monday, the department sent out two emails, one of which deleted the mention.
Reuters obtained an email from the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents HHS employees, in which the union emphasized that members must adhere to the agency’s decision to move forward with the “ill-advised exercise.” There was no quick response from the union.
In an email from HHS, workers were instructed to follow their supervisors’ instructions for how to react in a manner that would conceal any mention of specific scientific studies, reviews, or experiments, as well as any grants, grantees, contracts, or contractors.
“I feel I will spend the whole day writing these five bullets in a way that does not contain sensitive information while also providing information that my job is important. I don’t know if this can be called efficiency,” said an FDA insider who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Employees who have taken time off, are unable to answer in person because of work commitments, or have agreed to a deferred resignation are exempt from this requirement, as stated in the email.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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