It was another chaotic and unpredictable 24 hours in the second presidential term of Donald Trump.

That's where we're starting The Seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Wednesday, January 29th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

Thank you. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. The White House sent an email yesterday to millions of federal employees.

It was titled Fork in the Road.

It made them an offer.

Resign from your job and you can keep getting paid through September 30th.

Those who accept the deferred resignation would be exempt from in-person work requirements until then,

and they could see their duties changed in the meantime, or be reassigned or placed on leave.

This is the most sweeping effort yet by the new Trump administration to shrink

the ranks of government employees. That was a centerpiece of his pitch to voters during the campaign.

The offer expires on February 6th. That's a week from tomorrow. And it comes as many employees

are facing return-to-office mandates and the threat of layoffs,

so some may be tempted to take the jump.

But federal workers' unions urged their members not to take the deal,

and some Democrats called it a threat to democracy.

That wasn't all that happened at the White House yesterday.

So stick with us for number two.

A third one of confusion. That's number two.

Yesterday, I told you about the White House ordering agencies to temporarily pause the disbursement of all federal

grants and loans. The abrupt move caused immediate disruption to several vital government programs.

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