Liz Goggin, a social worker with the Veterans Health Administration, took the offer to resign in exchange for pay and benefits through September. Then she learned her position was exempt.

Almost all civil servants can opt to resign now and get paid through September without showing up for work—but Senator Tim Kaine warns it's a trick.

A federal judge is allowing the Trump administration to move forward with its plan to downsize the federal workforce by offering employees the option to resign now but stay on the payroll through September.