A federal judge Thursday blocked the Trump administration’s controversial buyout program for government workers just hours before its deadline, extending a period of uncertainty for thousands of federal employees.
Judge George O’Toole Jr. paused the program until at least Monday, when he will hear arguments from employee unions challenging its legality. More than 60,000 workers — about 3% of the federal workforce — had accepted the administration’s offer, far short of the White House’s 10% reduction target.
The “Fork in the Road” program promised continued pay and benefits through September for workers who agreed to resign immediately. The Office of Personnel Management sent repeated emails Thursday urging employees to accept before the night’s deadline, even as workers reported confusion and distress over the decision.
The White House defended the program. “We are grateful to the Judge for extending the deadline so more federal workers who refuse to show up to the office can take the Administration up on this very generous, once-in-a-lifetime offer,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
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Union leaders warn the offer lacks basic information about funding and statutory authority. Their lawsuit alleges the administration leveraged threats of job losses to pressure resignations.
The program forms part of a sweeping push to reshape the federal bureaucracy, an effort led by Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
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