WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has alerted federal workers that they might face furloughs if they do not take advantage of a buyout offer that ends this Thursday, according to a message obtained by YSL News.

The message, sent on Tuesday, also informed employees that many could lose their civil-service protections and indicated that there could be loyalty assessments for those who stay on.

While certain agencies, such as the Pentagon, may experience a rise in hiring, the email from the Office of Personnel Management states that “most federal agencies will be downsized.”

President Donald Trump has proposed buyouts for all federal employees as part of his plan to substantially decrease the size of the federal workforce. Every federal employee has the opportunity to receive eight months of pay and benefits until September if they choose to resign.

The email, labeled “Fork in the Road Reminder,” clearly states in bold that the buyout offer will end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

The term “Fork in the Road” was originally used by Elon Musk when he reduced jobs at Twitter in 2022. Now, as the head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, Musk seems to be employing a similar tactic with the federal workforce.

In Tuesday’s email, it was communicated to federal employees that the government will undergo “restructuring, realignments and workforce reductions.”

“These measures are expected to involve the use of furloughs and the reclassification of many federal employees to at-will status,” the message mentioned.

It further cautioned employees that they would be held to “enhanced standards of conduct.”

“The federal workforce should consist of individuals who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and strive for excellence in their daily tasks. As we proceed, employees will be held to higher standards of suitability and conduct.”

It concludes by expressing gratitude to those employees who decide to stay and assures them they will be treated with respect even if their jobs are eliminated.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 11 other state attorneys general, warned federal workers that the buyout offers could be misleading.

“These so-called offers are not guaranteed,” James stated. “Federal employees should be careful and adhere to the guidance provided by their unions to safeguard their rights.”

At least 20,000 federal employees have accepted the buyout offer, according to a White House official on Tuesday. This figure represents about 1% of the over 2 million federal employees, which falls short of the White House’s target of 5% to 10% acceptance rate.