US judge pauses deadline for federal workers to accept Trump's resignation offer

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily halted the deadline for federal employees to accept the Trump administration's offer of extended resignation in order to further examine the legality of the program. The government will notify relevant employees that the deadline, originally scheduled for Thursday (Friday, Australian Eastern Daylight Time), has been suspended. This pause allows for a more thorough review of the plan's implications.

Prior to the judge's ruling, eligible federal employees had until 11:59 PM on Thursday to decide whether to accept the Trump administration's offer of extended resignation. This proposal generally allows them to leave their positions, but with their salaries paid until the end of September. The decision weighed heavily on many employees, considering their career paths.

This suspension stems from a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts by the American Federation of Government Employees and several other unions, who sought a temporary restraining order to block the February 6th deadline. These unions also want to "require the government to articulate a lawful policy, rather than an arbitrary, unlawful, short-term ultimatum that workers may be unable to execute." The lawsuit highlights the unions' concerns about the fairness and legality of the offer.

U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, presides in Boston. He stated at a brief hearing that he was preventing the government from taking steps to implement the program so that he could receive more briefings on whether the program should be blocked. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday. Judge O'Toole's decision underscores the importance of careful consideration of the legal arguments.

Federal unions have strongly urged members not to accept the program, questioning its legality and the Trump administration's ability to fulfill its promises. A government official told CNN on Thursday that at least 50,000 employees have already accepted the program. Leaders and supervisors from at least two federal agencies have been meeting with their employees, reminding them of the offer, answering questions, and in some cases, almost urging employees to accept it. The unions are actively working to protect their members' interests.

The offer is part of a comprehensive effort by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce, and it has presented many employees with difficult decisions about their careers and futures. While a spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management described the offer as "a rare, generous opportunity," it also contains a warning: those who do not opt in face the risk of job loss. Two officials told CNN that the government plans to implement large-scale layoffs soon. The potential for layoffs has created uncertainty and anxiety among federal employees.

The 50,000 figure represents approximately 2.5% of the roughly 2 million federal employees who received the incentive program. The White House has stated that its goal is to have 5% to 10% of employees resign. Certain federal employees—including military personnel, immigration enforcement officers, certain national security staff, and employees of the National Transportation Safety Board—are not eligible. However, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency are eligible. The program's scope and eligibility criteria have been subjects of debate and scrutiny.

The program is one of several efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the federal workforce, including reducing its size, replacing career employees with political appointees, eliminating some civil service protections, ending diversity efforts, and more. Federal employee unions have slammed the Trump administration, claiming that it is seeking to hollow out the civil service and replace career employees with political loyalists. They also argue that the moves to reduce the federal workforce will harm the interests of the American people. The unions are committed to defending the integrity and effectiveness of the civil service.