New Jersey's New Governor Sparks Confusion with Resignation Requests

New Jersey is in a bit of a stir. The state's incoming governor, Sherrill, has asked long-time government workers to hand in their resignation letters. This isn't typical. Usually, only top officials get this request when a new governor comes in. But this time, it's different. People who have worked for years, even decades, are being told to resign. Some workers are upset. They feel blindsided. One worker said, "The toothpaste is out of the tube. " They mean that once trust is broken, it's hard to fix. Another worker joked, "Why is Sherrill DOGE-ing New Jersey? " They're referring to a meme where a dog runs away, but in this case, it's about workers leaving. Unions are stepping in. They say this might break the rules. Melvin Dwyer, from IFPTE local 195, said they're looking at their options. He said, "This is unusual. " Other unions are telling workers not to send in their letters just yet.During her campaign, Sherrill talked about bringing "ruthless competence" to government. She also criticized her opponent for wanting to "DOGE New Jersey. " Now, some workers feel like she's doing the same thing. There's a lot of confusion. Some workers don't know if this is the outgoing governor's fault or the incoming one's. One union compared it to what happened under the Trump administration. Others say they're working with Sherrill's team to fix the issue. Sherrill takes office soon. She'll replace Phil Murphy, who can't run again because of term limits. Workers have been told their resignations won't take effect unless they're accepted. They'll be told if that happens. Some workers are comparing this to the last time a governor switched parties. They said that transition was smoother. One worker said, "If this is how Sherrill wants to operate, they're in for a rude awakening. "