A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s “deferred resignation” program, which offered financial incentives to federal employees willing to resign. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched the initiative, allowing workers to receive full pay and benefits through September 30 if they resigned by February 6. More than 65,000 employees accepted the offer.
However, labor unions filed a lawsuit, arguing that the program lacked congressional approval and posed risks due to potential government shutdowns that could affect promised payments. In response, U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. extended a temporary restraining order, halting the program’s implementation while reviewing the case.
The administration insists the program is a legal strategy to streamline the federal workforce. As legal proceedings continue, the fate of the buyouts remains uncertain, leaving thousands of federal workers in limbo.
