Guides · Updated August 13, 2026
Federal Employee Resignation Letter: What to Include
A federal employee resignation letter typically covers your position, agency, effective date, and intent to resign; follow your agency's specific requirements.
If putting your federal resignation in writing feels stressful, know that a federal employee resignation letter doesn't need to be complicated. It should generally include your position, your agency, a clear effective date, and a plain statement that you're resigning, so HR can process the separation without chasing you for details. Follow any format or content instructions your agency provides.
This guidance applies to a standard, voluntary resignation from federal employment. It's different from retirement paperwork or a deferred resignation program agreement, which involve their own forms, deadlines, and terms. If either of those fits your situation, check with your agency's human resources office before using a basic resignation letter, since the process and requirements aren't the same.
Which separation process fits your situation?
Use this quick check to separate a standard resignation from retirement paperwork, a deferred-resignation agreement, and the agency's preferred delivery method.
| Your situation | What applies | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard resignation | Follow your agency's designated resignation process. Agency forms may ask for an effective date and name the official who receives the resignation. | USPS PS Form 2574 is one agency example. |
| Retiring instead of resigning | Use the retirement process, not a resignation or transfer form intended for another type of separation. | USPS instructs employees not to use PS Form 2574 when retiring. |
| Deferred Resignation Program paperwork | Treat it as a program agreement, not an ordinary resignation letter. The agency must accept the voluntary request, and the agreement sets the program terms. | DoD's 2025 sample agreement describes this process. |
| Email or hard copy | Written notice is preferred. Check your agency's instructions for whether to use its resignation email or letter format and who should receive it. | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory publishes a sample resignation letter; District of Columbia HR (not a federal agency) also shows letter and email formats. Federal agencies set their own. |
How to write the letter itself
You do not need a legal document. A short, direct statement that states your intent to resign, in your own plain words, is enough. Keep the tone respectful and forward-looking, even if you are leaving after a rough stretch or a reduction in force (RIF). One clean paragraph beats a long explanation, and a calm, professional close matters more than fancy language.
A simple model, built around the same elements official examples use, works for most situations:
> Please accept my resignation as [your position] with [your agency or office]. > My last day will be [date]. > I'm glad to help document open items and support a smooth handoff before then. > Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Address it to your direct supervisor, and copy your servicing HR office so the paperwork starts moving right away. If you want a model for brevity, the FTC's own resignation letter runs a single sentence: a formal tender of resignation with a title and an effective date. That is the level of detail your letter needs, not a personal essay about why you are leaving. Some agencies specify their own format or ask for a particular form alongside your letter, so check your agency's written instructions before you send it.
Notice, reason, and offering to help with the transition
How much notice you give is a courtesy question, not a legal one. The District of Columbia government's HR guidance encourages employees to provide "at least two weeks' notice" ahead of their planned last day, and TSA's separation directive tells employees to submit their request "as far in advance as possible." Neither treats two weeks as a hard requirement; both frame it as reasonable planning time for your supervisor and HR office. Check your own agency's timeline before you set a date, since some roles or clearance-related work may need more lead time.
You are not required to explain why you're leaving. TSA's directive states plainly that "an employee may choose not to provide a reason for leaving and may so state on the notification," and the District's guidance similarly says employees "are not required to provide a reason for the resignation," though they are encouraged to share one if they're comfortable. A one-line reason ("pursuing a new opportunity") is fine if you want to include it, but leaving it out is a normal, accepted choice.
Offering to help with the handoff is a courtesy, not an obligation you're signing up for. A sentence offering to update your status reports, document open items, or train a colleague through your last day is plenty. Only promise work you can actually finish.
What the letter isn't
Resigning is your decision, and your letter is the written notice that starts your agency's process. The sources on this page show agency-specific formats and examples; they do not establish a single government-wide resignation form. Follow any written instructions your agency gives you, and ask HR about anything specific to your case. This is general information, not legal advice.
Your letter is also separate from the personnel action your agency records after you give notice. Some agencies document that step on an SF-52 and SF-50; others use their own forms. Your letter does not replace that internal paperwork. Confirm with HR how your office records the separation. Your effective date may change leave payout or coverage dates under your agency's rules, so confirm those consequences with the benefits office before you settle on a date. For dates and pay after you file, see federal employee resignation. For coverage after you leave, review what happens to federal employee benefits after resignation and the federal-to-private-sector transition guide.
Sources and further reading
- FTC letter of resignation: A one-sentence federal example: title plus an effective date.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory sample resignation letter: A laboratory sample covering position, date, and a short handoff offer.
- OPM original deferred-resignation email to employees: OPM's 2025 program email, which is a deferred-resignation agreement rather than an ordinary resignation letter.
- OPM deferred-resignation FAQ: Separates the 2025 deferred-resignation program from a standard voluntary resignation.
- HHS Deferred Resignation Program Q&A: An agency example of program paperwork that should not be confused with a basic resignation letter.
Common questions about federal resignation letters
Can I withdraw my resignation after I submit it?
You can ask to withdraw a resignation before your effective date. Put the request in writing and date it. At TSA, the Office of Human Capital reviews these requests and the directive allows that agency to decline for a valid reason; other agencies set their own withdrawal rules. Contact your HR office as soon as you reconsider, and don't assume the date has changed until you hear back.
Is two weeks' notice required before I resign?
The sources on this page do not show a government-wide two-week requirement. TSA's separation directive asks employees to submit their request as far in advance as possible, and District of Columbia government HR (not a federal agency) encourages at least two weeks as a courtesy. Check your own agency's written instructions before you commit to a date, since some roles need more handover time.
Will my letter affect my leave payout or benefits timing?
Your effective date may change when final pay or coverage ends, but the details depend on your agency's payroll and benefits rules. Confirm the specifics with your agency's benefits office before you submit your letter, especially if your planned date is close. Our guide on federal employee benefits after resignation covers this in more depth.
What happens after I submit my resignation letter?
After you submit, your agency acknowledges the notice and your supervisor starts the personnel action. HR usually sends exit-clearance and property-return instructions, then follows up with benefits and final-pay information. At TSA, supervisors accept the request while the Office of Human Capital processes it; District of Columbia guidance also asks agencies to confirm their understanding of your resignation in writing, so read any follow-up carefully. If your next step is private-sector work, you can find roles matched to your federal experience once your dates are set.
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