A U.S. federal judge has extended a freeze on President Trump’s \"buyout\" plan for approximately 2 million federal workers. The decision postpones the deadline for accepting the offer, which proposed seven months of salary to those who choose to leave their positions.
On Thursday, just hours before the original acceptance deadline, Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily halted the administration's \"buyout\" initiative. Following a hearing on Monday, the judge announced that the pause will remain in effect until he rules on the legality of the \"deferred resignation\" plan.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) introduced the program on January 28, initially setting the deadline for February 6. According to the OPM statement, \"If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025.\"
To date, more than 60,000 employees have accepted the offer, representing roughly 3 percent of the 2 million federal workers eligible for \"deferred resignation,\" as reported by NBC News. Labor unions have voiced strong opposition to the program, contending that the OPM exceeded its authority by guaranteeing pay and benefits until the end of September. They also argue that Congress only approved funding for most federal agencies until March 14.
Additionally, the unions claim that the buyout offer disregards potential negative impacts on the government's operational capabilities, imposes an unreasonably tight deadline, and serves as a pretext for dismissing and replacing workers based on ideological reasons.
Reference(s):
U.S. judge extends freeze on Trump's 'buyout' plan for federal workers
cgtn.com
