How the Fork Did We Get Here?

Welcome to Forking Off! We're Jill & Philip Fields. We took the government's deferred resignation because our morals and our ethics were being pushed to the limit by changes in the new administration. We created this podcast to share our story and the stories of other former feds who said no to “Just following orders." We will explore the very personal experience of leaving federal service—whether by choice, or by force. Every departure has a story, and we’re here to share them.

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"Fork in the Road" was the title and subject line of a memo sent on January 28, 2025, by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to all federal employees.

OPM, Original Email to Employees, dated January 28, 2025

https://www.opm.gov/about-us/fork/original-email-to-employees/

OPM, Fork in the Road

https://www.opm.gov/about-us/fork/

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Washington Post article cited stating: about 6.7% of the federal civilian workforce resigned under the program, with more than 154,000 drawing a full salary for more than 6 months.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/31/federal-workers-doge-buyout-paid/

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Washington Post article detailing the Trump administration's desire to put federal employees in trauma subsequent mental health impacts of federal employees.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/05/20/federal-workers-trump-mental-health/

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ProPublica clip of Russell Vought at the Center for Renewing America referring to federal employees and stating "We want to put them in trauma."

https://youtu.be/oBH9TmeJN_M

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NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide by Glen Weldon

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635199/nprs-podcast-start-up-guide-by-glen-weldon/

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The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the United States, or any past or current employers.