Federal workers across the nation face a life-altering decision this week — tender their resignations and be paid through Sept. 30. Or hold firm and face future rounds of belt-tightening and strict return to the office requirements.

The Trump administration issued an email blast on Jan. 28 giving most of the country’s 2.3 million eligible employees federal workers the option to resign with pay through Sept. 30. The deadline to decide on whether to accept the offer is Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees must decide by February 6, 2025, whether to accept the " Fork in the Road" deferred resignation offer.