This NPR Indicator podcast discusses the Trump administration's controversial plan to significantly reduce the federal workforce. The plan involves offering employees a deal to resign with paid leave until September, raising legal questions about funding and the legality of extended administrative leave. The podcast features interviews with a federal employment lawyer who highlights concerns about the plan's legality and with federal employees grappling with the decision to accept the offer or risk potential job loss. One concrete example is the "Fork in the Road" email sent to employees, mirroring a similar tactic used by Elon Musk at Twitter. The podcast concludes with a federal judge temporarily halting the buyout program, leaving the future of the plan uncertain.
