Former IRS employee Donna Talbott is among thousands of federal workers experiencing significant delays in receiving their retirement and vacation payments. After dedicating over 33 years to the Internal Revenue Service, Talbott opted for a voluntary exit program known as the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) but has yet to receive the money owed to her.
Talbott, who spent most of her career working remotely, expressed her love for her job, stating, “I helped taxpayers; I always said I worked for the good side.” Despite her dedication, she is now facing uncertainty as delays continue to affect numerous federal employees. The situation has been exacerbated by staffing shortages within the IRS, leading to a backlog in processing payments.
In April 2023, federal employees were offered the option to participate in the DRP, which placed them on paid administrative leave until September 30, 2023. Talbott opted into this program, believing it would align with her retirement plans and benefit her family. However, since her retirement, she has not received any of the payments due to her, which include funds for unused vacation hours and her retirement pension.
“It’s the end of December now, and I have not received anything,” Talbott said, highlighting the financial strain this delay has placed on her and her husband. Many other workers in similar situations are feeling the impact, especially during the holiday season. “There are so many people that are hurting, that are not having a Merry Christmas, probably not a great New Year either,” she added.
The delays are not merely administrative; they reflect broader issues within the federal workforce. Talbott pointed to the “lack of employees” as a primary reason for the delays, stating, “When you start cutting out some of the basic background and backbone of a government, that’s going to cause problems.” Her concerns echo those of many who have opted for the DRP, as hundreds of thousands of federal employees are still awaiting their payments.
The situation has drawn attention from union representatives, including Regina Parker, president of the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 9. She noted that the government shutdown in October and subsequent staff reductions have contributed to the backlog. “I really think they were more concerned about getting rid of federal employees than they were concerned about what it would do to federal employees,” Parker remarked.
Parker’s union has opposed the DRP since it was announced, emphasizing the detrimental effects it has had on workers. Unfortunately, a clear resolution for those still awaiting payments remains elusive. “I tried to find an answer, but a lot of it is, we don’t know,” Parker stated.
For Talbott, the financial challenges have forced her to consider drastic measures to support her family. “We have actually thought about ‘do we need to get rid of everything’ and — it’s going to make me tear up a bit — and buy a camper? Buy a trailer? Live in our car? I honestly don’t know,” she said, illustrating the emotional toll the delays have taken on her family.
As she waits for clarity on when her payments will arrive, Talbott reflects on her career and the unexpected difficulties she now faces. “This is not how I wanted to end my career,” she concluded, hoping that her experience will shed light on the struggles many federal workers are currently enduring.
