I took the deferred resignation the first time around. I was planning to retire in the summer but when this was offered I took the opportunity. It took me a while to be comfortable with it until I did a lot of digging. Once the acting head of OPM and head legal came out with the memo stating why it was legit is when I finally was comfortable. I came to look at it as the best VSIP ever offered. Both the first one and the last one offered a VERA but that was not advertised very well on the first one. I knew on the first one that sending in the email was just putting my name on the list and nothing was official until I signed the agreement so if it tanked then I wasn't obligated. I let my leaders know I hit the send button so no one was surprised. I personally know a couple of people that were reluctant to do it the first time but jumped at this one.
Yes, there are restrictions on what you can do during the time you are still being paid because you are still under the government payroll. You can't come back as CSS and work in a program office or be the face of the contractor to the government. You could though work at a contractor doing 'behind-the-scenes" work. I was given the example that I could not be an instructor but could assist with building the teaching curriculum. Once I officially retire, I can basically do whatever I want since I was not involved in any source selections.
