A federal judge in Massachusetts has allowed President Donald Trump‘s “buyout” plan for federal employees to move forward. The decision, announced on Wednesday (February 12), lifts a temporary halt on the program that encourages federal workers to resign in exchange for pay through September. The program had been paused since last Thursday due to a lawsuit filed by unions representing over 800,000 federal workers, who argued that the program was “arbitrary” and “unlawful.”
U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. ruled that the unions lacked standing to sue and that his court did not have jurisdiction over the case. In his ruling, O’Toole stated that the unions were not directly impacted by the directive, which specifically affects executive branch employees. The judge did not comment on the legality of the buyout program itself.
The program, part of Trump’s efforts to reduce the civilian workforce, offers federal employees the option to resign voluntarily before potential layoffs. According to the White House, approximately 65,000 workers have already accepted the deal. However, the program has faced criticism for its rapid deployment and confusing rollout, with some employees expressing regret over their decision to accept the offer.
The unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, are considering their next steps following the ruling. AFGE National President Everett Kelley called the decision a “setback” in the fight for public servants’ rights. The unions maintain that the program is illegal and have raised concerns about its impact on federal workers and their families.
The buyout plan is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to reshape the federal workforce, with representatives of Elon Musk‘s U.S. DOGE Service overseeing the process. The administration has faced numerous legal challenges over its executive orders, with federal judges blocking several of its initiatives.
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