A U.S. judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s buyout program for federal workers, granting an initial victory to labor unions challenging the plan. Despite the pause, more than 60,000 federal employees have already accepted the offer, a White House source told Reuters.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Boston delays the midnight deadline set by the administration, which is pushing for a historic downsizing of the federal workforce. The judge could extend the block or impose a permanent ruling after a hearing on Monday. For now, federal employees may still submit resignations until 11:59 p.m. ET that day.
Trump’s buyout proposal is part of a broader effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy, which he has blamed for obstructing his agenda. The White House is also implementing drastic cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), intending to retain fewer than 300 employees from a workforce of over 10,000, according to multiple sources.
The buyout plan has sparked protests and legal challenges, with labor unions and Democratic lawmakers arguing it violates federal laws. Employees were instructed to confirm their participation by replying to an official email with “RESIGN” in the subject line. The offer promised full salaries and benefits until October, but federal spending laws set to expire in March raise concerns about whether payments will continue beyond that point. Some agencies, including the Education Department, have warned employees that paychecks could stop at any time.
Trump has tasked billionaire Elon Musk with leading the effort to overhaul the federal workforce. Reports indicate that Musk’s team has sought access to personnel files and payroll data from various agencies, raising privacy concerns.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with seven other Democratic attorneys general, announced plans to sue the administration to prevent Musk’s team from accessing government employees’ personal data. “The president does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses,” James said in a statement.
Many federal employees say they are grappling with uncertainty, unsure whether to take a buyout offer that may not be honored or risk termination. Some workers have been downloading pay and benefits records, fearing they could be erased from government systems.
“In the hallways, people are stopping each other to ask what they will do. Many are scared because we are caught between two bad choices with little time to decide,” said an executive at the Treasury Department, speaking anonymously.
Although 60,000 employees—about 2.5% of the 2.3 million-strong federal workforce—have accepted the buyout, it remains unclear which agencies will see the most departures.
The Trump administration has warned that those who decline the buyout could still lose their jobs. Agencies have been instructed to compile lists of employees who received subpar performance ratings in the past three years and those hired within the last two years, who may lack full civil-service protections. Officials were also ordered to identify career employees appointed by former President Joe Biden.
The White House has denied reports that mass firings are planned at the Food and Drug Administration and other health agencies, though fears persist that deep cuts across the federal government are imminent.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
