Boston, MA – A federal judge in the US has put a temporary hold on President Donald Trump’s plan to offer incentives to federal workers to voluntarily resign before a Thursday midnight deadline. The plan is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to downsize the federal government. More than 40,000 employees have accepted the offer to resign in exchange for pay until September 30, according to the White House. However, some workers have expressed confusion about the terms of the deal. The order to pause the plan came just hours before the deadline on Thursday night.
The temporary halt on the plan was issued by Federal Judge George O’Toole Jr until a hearing on Monday where he will determine the merits of a lawsuit filed by federal employee unions. The White House sees the extension of the deadline as an opportunity to increase the number of resignations. A statement from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) clarified that resignations would continue to be processed until the new deadline on Monday night. Despite the pause in the program, the government assured that the deferred resignation offer would still be honored.
Some federal employees have reacted with shock to the buy-out proposal, which was communicated through a late-night email with the subject line “Fork in the Road.” The American Federation of Government Employees union, which filed the lawsuit against the OPM, argued that the offer was an attempt to dismantle the civil service and replace qualified professionals with political appointees and contractors. Democrats have also raised concerns about the legality of the resignation package and warned of a potential “brain drain” that could impact the government’s efficiency in responding to emergencies and serving the public.
The Trump administration had hoped for as many as 200,000 employees to accept the offer but faced pushback from federal employee unions and some lawmakers. Some national security departments, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, have extended the offer to their staff members, raising concerns about the potential impact on US national security. Reports of impending cuts to agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Health and Human Services have also surfaced. The outcome of the lawsuit and the ultimate fate of the government’s downsizing efforts will likely be decided in the coming days.