Chaos erupted within the newly rebranded DOGE initiative as employees were left scrambling for answers after receiving a cryptic “Fork in the Road” email urging them to accept a “deferred resignation.” The mysterious email, which bore striking similarities to one Elon Musk sent to Twitter staff in 2022, has federal employees questioning their future—and the responses from their new HR chief have only deepened the uncertainty.
On Friday, DOGE employees, formerly part of the United States Digital Service, met with Stephanie Holmes, their newly assigned HR representative. Holmes introduced herself as part of the DOGE team, but instead of clarifying concerns about the abrupt resignation offer, she sidestepped most of the questions thrown her way. According to meeting notes obtained by WIRED, employees repeatedly pressed her for specifics about the nature of the offer, the fate of remote workers, and whether their projects would continue.
Holmes, however, could only offer vague reassurances. When asked directly if the resignation offer was legally sound, she responded, “We believe the offer is lawful.” She provided no further legal justification or supporting details. Employees also raised concerns about the legitimacy of the email, questioning whether a simple reply with “resign” in the subject line was a secure way to accept the deal. Some feared that external bad actors could spoof email addresses and submit resignations on their behalf.
“I assume that if folks decide to go through with the deferred resignation, there’s some kind of actual agreement that we sign,” one employee asked. “Can we get a copy of that ahead of time?”
Holmes’s response? “I don’t know, but will circle back on that.”
With a looming February 6 deadline, the lack of clear answers is fueling anxiety among employees. The email, reportedly sent from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), suggested that those who refuse to resign might still find themselves unemployed in the near future. Holmes was pressed to commit to providing more details before the deadline, but her response was blunt: “No.”
One frustrated employee pushed back. “There are a variety of things this room has brought up that are contradictory or challenging to understand … I’m just wondering why you are unable to commit to providing those specifics right now.”
Holmes doubled down, advising employees to focus on what she described as the benefits of the offer. “The benefits of accepting the deferred resignation is that you will be guaranteed not to be subject to reduction in force and you’re exempt from the return-to-office mandate,” she stated, urging employees to consider the “generous aspects” of the deal.
The situation at DOGE is part of a broader wave of uncertainty sweeping through government agencies. Reports indicate that senior leaders at OPM were instructed to prepare for drastic staff and program cuts—potentially reducing the agency’s workforce by up to 70 percent. An internal email sent to OPM staff on Friday acknowledged the swirling rumors but provided little concrete information, only stating, “I do not have any definitive answers at this time … I understand that this uncertainty is very unsettling.”
As tensions rise, scrutiny has also fallen on Holmes herself. According to 404 Media, she previously made a name for herself by promoting a self-styled “non-woke” and Christian alternative to traditional DEI programs. In a past speech at a Federalist Society event, she criticized mainstream HR policies, saying, “I care a lot about these issues and saw a problem I wanted to help fix.”
With lawsuits already mounting against DOGE’s federal designation and employees left without clear guidance, the pressure is on for leadership to provide real answers. But as it stands, DOGE employees may have no choice but to gamble with their careers—or walk away entirely.
