Federal Workers Ready to Retire If Government Forces Reopening

Some federal workers say they’ve already decided to retire if forced to go back to the office while the coronavirus pandemic is still raging.

That could leave U.S. agencies hobbled without key personnel as they shift into the third and final phase of the White House’s post-pandemic reopening plan. Some bureaus, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, have been pushing to reopen their doors at a pace that employees say isn’t supported by the infection and death rate data.

The trend could hit agencies with older workers particularly hard, including the EPA and the Internal Revenue Service.

Federal employees, ...