Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign

Federal judge blocks Trump's plan to push out workers, offering financial incentives, causing turmoil for government employees.

A federal judge on Thursday (February 6, 2025) temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest tumult for government employees already wrestling with upheaval from the new administration.

The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline to apply for the deferred resignation program, which was orchestrated by Mr. Trump’s adviser Elon Musk.

Labour unions said the plan was illegal, and U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston paused its implementation until after he could hear arguments from both sides at a court hearing scheduled for Monday (February 10, 2025) afternoon. He directed the administration to extend the deadline until then.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 40,000 workers have already signed up to leave their jobs while being paid until Sept. 30. She described federal employees who have been working remotely as lazy, saying “they don’t want to come into the office" and “if they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout.”

A federal worker in Colorado, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said the insults directed at the government workforce by members of the Trump administration have been demoralizing for those who provide public services.

She said the judge's decision bolstered suspicions, echoed by people who work across various departments and agencies, that the deferred resignation program was legally questionable.

Another worker in the Pacific Northwest decided to take the offer on Thursday, even after the judge's decision. She hopes to use the opportunity to move overseas. But even if the money never comes, she still wants out. She's unwilling to comply with administration policies such as eliminating diversity initiatives, and she worries that the situation will only get worse for people who stay.