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The email hit inboxes like a quiet bomb, landing in the personal and professional spaces of nearly two million federal employees. For many, it was impossible to ignore. In a single message, the government was asking an enormous workforce to make a decision that could alter the course of their careers and livelihoods: return to the office under a renewed push for in‑person work—or step away with months of full pay and benefits, effectively ending their current roles on their own terms. The news spread rapidly, whispered over Zoom calls, shared in break rooms, and posted across social media, carrying with it the immediate tension of uncertainty. Rumors of a political “purge” began to circulate, fueled by the timing and language of the memo, as well as by broader debates about the federal workforce under the current administration.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the White House, fired back swiftly against the speculation, insisting that the initiative was driven entirely by savings and efficiency, not political retaliation. “This is about accountability, cost management, and ensuring the government operates effectively,” she told reporters. But for federal workers who had spent years—or even decades—building careers in public service, the reassurance felt thin. Many could not ignore the historical context: past administrations had occasionally used subtle pressure tactics to encourage departures among employees seen as politically misaligned. Even if this was not a purge, the optics were striking, and anxiety was widespread.
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