On Thursday, February 6, a federal judge halted President Trump’s plan to dismiss redundant employees and streamline the federal government, extending the deadline for federal employees to accept the Trump administration’s comprehensive buyout offer.
Previously, a union representing federal employees filed a lawsuit last week seeking to block the government’s “deferred resignation program.” A federal judge in Boston indicated that their request would be heard at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.
The court is scheduled to hold a hearing next Monday to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of blocking the White House proposal.
As per the original plan, Thursday was the deadline for millions of federal employees to decide whether to accept the buyout offer and leave federal government or to continue working. If they choose the buyout, they only need to respond with “resignation.”
The deadline for resignation applications was originally set for 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructed employees to send their resignation emails directly to the OPM instead of their respective agencies.
Now, the deadline has been postponed to next Monday to allow employees more time to weigh their options.
The buyout program promises employees eight months of pay and benefits in exchange for leaving the federal government, during which time they are not required to work and can focus on finding another job.
However, the buyout contract includes special clauses where employees may still be required to work in certain circumstances and could be prohibited from engaging in outside employment.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that while the Trump administration assures employees they will be compensated regardless of the expiration of federal funds in March, the contract prohibits employees from questioning any issues within the contract in almost any form.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), stated in a press release, “We are pleased that the court has temporarily postponed the deadline during the legal hearings on the deferred resignation program. We still believe that the program violates the law and will continue to actively defend the rights of our members.”
This downsizing is part of the federal government reform led by Trump advisor Elon Musk. The White House stated that they are fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to cut wasteful spending and streamline bureaucratic agencies.
Many conservatives and Republican lawmakers who control both houses of Congress welcome and support the streamlining of agencies, feeling that bureaucratic entities are too left-leaning and slow to respond to the president’s agenda.
OPM spokesperson McLaurine Pinover said, “This is a rare opportunity, meticulously designed to assist employees through the reorganization period.”
One project manager decided to accept the voluntary resignation offer because he anticipated layoffs in his organization and did not want to be fired during the downsizing. He expressed that leaving earlier would give him more time to find a new job.
Other federal employees choose to stay because their communication with the new government solidifies their mission to serve the American people during turbulent times, revitalizing their pride in their work. Some are concerned that individuals capable of finding higher-paying jobs elsewhere will leave their positions, leading to a loss of talent within federal agencies.
Officials from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management stated on Wednesday that over 40,000 federal employees have accepted the resignation offer.