Deferred Resignation Denied, aka What the fork?!

My agency released Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) approvals and denials today. We denied over 80% of those who applied. That include retirees who are now leaving anyway and probationary employees who were willing to take the out ahead of potentially being fired.

Those probationary employees received notice their position was deemed mission essential and there for they could not resign under the DRP. This of course led to questions doe that mean they are safe from being fired and was met by confused shrugs from all supervisors and managers.

Several people attempted to take the VERA offered in conjunction with the DRP and were denied but we are contemplating offering another VERA in the nearish future. Well if we didn't let anyone out on this VERA how does anyone get out with the new VERA?

What a mess. What the fork.