Don’t Stay, It’s Time to Get Away?

I want to start by saying how proud I am of the federal employees on this subreddit and beyond who are fighting for their jobs and the critical work they do. But I’m also scared—because I haven’t seen anyone seriously considering the so-called “fork in the road” deal while I am. I’m scared that this may be the best option left before the possibility of losing my job without warning or any remote possibility of a deal.

I’ve been following this situation closely since the executive orders revoked remote work for federal employees, and the push toward Schedule F implementation has been steadily advancing. Despite these major shifts, my management chain has been completely silent—except for the new acting political appointee who has been favorable towards the situation. That silence is terrifying.

I’ve been a federal employee for nearly a decade and worked remotely since the pandemic. Since 2020, I’ve moved out of the DC area and live just under the 50-mile commuting radius with an approx 1.5-2 hour commute each way on public transit (or with traffic). Our acting political appointee has now told us we’re expected to return to the office by the end of next month and stated that my department is "pleased to honor OPM's offer of deferred resignations". My union CBA protects my remote work agreement, but when I asked my direct manager whether I needed to report, all I got was:

“We’re expected to return to the office, or it will be noted.”

The union has advised that we must report if directly ordered, but they will fight to uphold our CBA. So, I asked if this was a direct order.

“No, but your absence on the return-to-office deadline will be noted.”

No guidance. No transparency. No empathy. Just silence. This is the reality I'm facing—not only from my direct supervisor, but from the entire leadership team. To be clear, my frustration is directed at those implementing these directives, not at my managers, who, I suspect, are equally fearful of the situation. That said, the ongoing silence is eroding my hope.

While I understand that my remote work agreement may seem trivial compared to the broader threats we face—such as Schedule F or the potential for mass, unjustified firings—there’s an overwhelming sense that fighting to stay may only mean sacrificing my mental health for the sake of a grueling commute and possibly being directed to enact policies opposed to my department's mission in the future. Meanwhile, management remains silent.

I want to believe that leadership will stand with us when it truly matters. But up until now and historically, it feels as though their focus is on self-preservation, rather than advocating for those of us who are struggling or even acknowledging the existence of a struggle. I know they’re likely as afraid as I am, but their silence has created a sense of isolation that borders on complicity.

I’m trapped between so-called “choices” that are really ultimatums. This is not a voluntary decision when guardrails and ethics rules are being dismantled, and the justice system may be too compromised to challenge these actions—now or anytime soon.

  1. If I take the deal, I might not get the 'severance pay'.
  2. If I don’t take the deal, I’ll be commuting indefinitely 15–20 hours a week.
  3. If I stay and commute, I could be fired anyway under Schedule F—or whatever comes next—while management likely remains silent.
  4. If I stay and work remotely on the deadline, I'll be fired for gross misconduct.

With my leadership seemingly completely disengaged or just as personally overwhelmed I am, I fear that the “deal” (hoax or not) is my only real alternative to:

  • Being fired later.
  • Being fired for gross misconduct for not reporting.
  • Losing my mental health, benefits, and work-life balance and being directed to work on policies opposed to the mission of my department in the future.

So, by choosing to stay, am I just as complicit as my silent management chain? Or is it an active protest? By choosing to take the deal, would I be complicit with a fascist takeover, or is leaving now to avoid that complicity the morally right choice?

If I decide to take the deal, it won’t be until the last possible moment, given how quickly things are moving in this new cycle. However, I feel like it’s something I have to seriously consider because the only news I've received on this issue is from OPM and our acting appointee, and no one else.