A federal judge in the US has temporarily suspended the deadline for federal employees to accept the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer while legal proceedings regarding the programme’s validity continue. A notice will be dispatched to employees informing them that the original Thursday deadline is now on hold.
The judge’s ruling follows a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and other unions in Massachusetts, seeking a restraining order against the deadline. These unions demand that the government clarify a lawful policy instead of presenting an arbitrary ultimatum that could be unenforceable.
US District Judge George O’Toole has halted implementation of the plan as he reviews its legality, with the next hearing scheduled for Monday. Federal unions have advised members to reject the offer, questioning its legality and the administration’s ability to deliver on its promises.
Despite the unions’ stance, at least 50,000 employees have already accepted the package, which allows them to resign while receiving pay until the end of September. The administration aims to reduce the federal workforce by 5 to 10 per cent, with the potential for widespread layoffs on the horizon, creating a challenging decision for many employees regarding their careers and futures. Critics argue that these moves are aimed at diminishing the integrity of the civil service by replacing career staff with political appointees.