WASHINGTON ― Thursday was supposed to be decision day. More than 2 million federal employees across the country faced an end-of day deadline to choose whether to resign or stay in their jobs.
But a federal judge in Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon temporary blocked the buyouts, suspending the deadline until at least Monday, when a hearing has been set.
In a push to drastically reduce the workforce, President Donald Trump last week offered a mass buyout plan to the entire federal workforce, setting off fear and anxiety among federal workers as they contemplate what to do.
The judge’s decision in a court showdown over the legality of the buyouts has now created more uncertainty.
More:’I’m in limbo’: Fear and uncertainty in federal workforce as Trump deadline arrives
Here’s what to know:
What did the judge decide?
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued a temporary restraining order to allow for additional litigation in a case brought by unions challenging the legality of the buyout program.
It means that an original 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday night deadline has been delayed until at least Monday, when the next hearing will take place.
What is the White House saying?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement saying the judge’s delay will allow more federal workers to take part in the buyout.
“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,” Leavitt said.
Who brought the lawsuit?
The American Federation of Government Employees and two other unions filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court Tuesday seeking to overturn the buyout, arguing the Trump administration lacks any statutory basis for the “unprecedented offer.”
Plaintiffs have also argued the Trump administration can’t authorize buyout payments through September when Congress hasn’t appropriated funding past March 14.
AFGE is the largest federal employees union, representing about 800,000 workers.
Who is the judge?
O’Toole is an appointee of President Bill Clinton and has served on the federal bench since 1995.
What’s in the buyout offer?
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management last Tuesday offered all federal employees eight months of pay and benefits through September if they resign by by Feb. 6.
What is the ‘Fork in the Road?’
The offer came in a surprise email that hit inboxes at 6:04 p.m. on Jan. 28 with the subject line: “The Fork in the Road.”
It’s a title that came from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who Trump has empowered to lead the government makeover through his Department of Government Efficiency.
“Fork in the Road” is the same subject line Musk used in 2022 when he gave employees of Twitter a similar ultimatum after buying the social media company and later changing its name to X.
What’s required of workers?
Federal workers who stay in their jobs have been told they must return to in-person work, embrace new “performance standards” and be “reliable, loyal and trustworthy” in their work, among other new “reforms” across the government.
Are participants expected to keep working?
No. However, this has been a source of confusion.
The initial “Fork in the Road” email raised questions by its wording because it didn’t explicitly say that federal workers won’t be expected to work through September if they accept the offer.
In a follow-up email titled “Fork in the Road FAQs,” the OPM clarified employees are not expected to work during the deferred resignation period and can accept a job elsewhere while still getting paid through September.
Will there be an extension?
No.
“There will NOT be an extension of this program,” federal employees were told in an email Thursday morning at 1:05 a.m. titled “Final Day: Fork in the Road.”
However, this notice was sent prior to the judge’s ruling.
How many workers have accepted the offer?
About 60,000 federal workers had accepted the offer as of Thursday afternoon, according to NBC News. That represents about 2.6% of the workforce, below a goal of 5% to 10% the White House has targeted.
The White House has said they expect the number of participants to grow rapidly in the final 24 hours.
Could layoffs be next?
The Trump administration has given strong signals that layoffs or furloughs could be in store if not enough federal employees accept the buyouts.
The original “Fork in the Road” email warned that most federal departments and agencies will be “downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force.”
And an OPM memo Tuesday warned federal employees could be furloughed if they do not accept the buyout and that “the majority of federal agencies will be downsized,” with the Defense Department as an exception.
What’s Musk’s role in this?
The buyout plan for federal employees reflects the enormous power Musk is exerting over Trump’s federal government through DOGE, which the president created via executive order.
Musk and his DOGE aides have taken over the OPM and assumed control of federal IT infrastructure as his team swiftly blitzes through departments and agencies.
Trump’s DOGE executive order instructed department heads to give the new agency “full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems.”
What are Democrats saying?
Democrats in Congress have warned federal workers not to accept the offer, arguing that funding hasn’t been appropriated for the buyouts and that Trump trusted to deliver the payments.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
