An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Federal worker resignation deadline; tech layoffs; an egg heist; and more

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By Hannah Jewell and Jamie Ross

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Good morning. It's Thursday, Feb. 6, and you probably have a lot on your mind if you're a federal worker. Our experts are answering questions here at 1 p.m. Eastern. Let's start there.

Federal workers must decide on President Donald Trump's resignation offer today.

What to know: Employees have until 11.59 p.m. Eastern to accept the offer to resign and be paid through September. More than 40,000 have, but there are clear risks.
Zooming out: Elon Musk's team has broadened its sweep of federal agencies, accessing health payment systems and seeking other sensitive data. Find tips to lock down your data here.
Play along: Musk wants $2 trillion in budget cuts. This game shows how hard that is.

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Trump's proposal to take ownership of Gaza was widely condemned.

Yesterday: The White House tried to walk back Trump's shocking suggestion, which experts say would violate international law. Trump's idea fit his pattern of unpredictability.
The reaction: Palestinians, with a long history of displacement, fear another expulsion. The United Nations warned of ethnic cleansing. And far-right Israelis celebrated the proposal.

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Trump signed an executive order targeting transgender athletes.

What it does: Threatens to deny federal funds for schools that allow trans athletes to compete in girls' and women's sports. The order's language seems calculated to provoke hostility.
The bigger picture: As Washington reels from Trump's first actions, his voters like what they see. And, this time, the anti-Trump resistance is in court, not the streets.

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A new form of bird flu was detected in dairy cows.

What to know: The strain, responsible for the first human bird flu death, was detected in a silo of raw milk last month. It's different from one spreading through herds since last year.
Why it matters: It suggests cows may be more susceptible to bird flu than previously thought. That could increase the risk of human infection.
In other health news: Republican vaccine defenders are bowing to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a dangerous time.

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Tech giant Workday is laying off about 1,750 employees.

Why? The workforce management software firm said it is prioritizing artificial intelligence. The cuts, affecting 8.5% of staff, are the latest layoffs sweeping the tech sector.
In other business news: Whole Foods said Trump's firing of labor regulators meant a Philadelphia store's union vote should be dismissed. And Google will end a DEI program.

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A lot more stores could close down in 2025.

How many? 15,000 retail stores, according to a new report. That's about double last year's figure, which was the highest since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Why? Brick-and-mortar retail stores are dealing with bankruptcies, online shopping and high interest rates. Trump's tariff plans could cause more headaches.

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Authorities are scrambling to crack a 100,000-egg heist in Pennsylvania.

Police are shell-shocked: Thieves stole the eggs from a trailer Saturday, authorities said. The haul is worth about $40,000, and not just because of the recent spike in egg prices.
Laying down the law: Police asked residents to contact them with leads. So, if you see someone cooking a suspiciously large omelet, you know who to call.

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Before you go … what are you making for your Super Bowl party? Check out our best recipes. Can't find what you're after? Search our archive of over 10,000 tested dishes.

One more good read: She was diagnosed with Parkinson's at 27. These were her warning signs.

And finally … test your news knowledge with The Post's daily quiz, On the Record. Click here to play. Or try our word games, Keyword and the brand-new Wridges.

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow.