A U.S. judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to offer incentives for federal employees to voluntarily resign, just hours before the deadline. Federal Judge George O’Toole Jr issued the pause until a Monday hearing to assess a lawsuit filed by employee unions, according to CBS News.
The Trump administration introduced the buyout program as part of its broader effort to downsize the federal workforce. The White House stated that over 40,000 employees had already accepted the offer, which provides pay until September 30. However, some workers expressed confusion about the terms of the deal.
Despite the pause, the administration saw the delay as beneficial, allowing more employees to opt into the program. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the extension would help additional workers who “refuse to show up to the office” take advantage of the offer.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reassured employees that the program was not canceled, confirming that resignations would still be processed until the revised deadline on Monday at 11:59 p.m.
The administration initially hoped that up to 200,000 employees would accept the offer, anticipating cost savings for taxpayers. “It’s going to save the American people tens of millions of dollars,” Leavitt told reporters before the judge’s ruling.
However, the American Federation of Government Employees, which sued the OPM, argued that the program was illegal, lacked funding, and included conflicting guidance. The union claimed the move aimed to replace experienced civil servants with political appointees and private contractors.
Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have raised concerns that the resignations would create a “brain drain” in the federal government, weakening its ability to handle national crises and routine operations. The House Oversight Committee warned President Trump that the loss of institutional expertise could impact government effectiveness.
Meanwhile, intelligence and national security officials voiced alarm over the potential effects on agencies such as the CIA, which extended the offer to its employees on Tuesday. Similar concerns have emerged regarding expected cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Many federal employees were reportedly caught off guard by the buyout proposal, with some initially mistaking the email announcement—titled “Fork in the Road”—for spam.
Liberty News’ international correspondent states that as the legal battle unfolds, federal workers await clarity on whether the controversial program will proceed as planned.
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