On Wednesday, a federal judge in Boston cleared a major obstacle facing President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at reducing the federal workforce through a deferred resignation program. The ruling, which came after a legal challenge from a coalition of labor unions, marks a pivotal moment for the Republican president following a series of previous legal defeats.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on the victory, stating, “This is evidence that legal challenges will not ultimately overshadow the will of the 77 million Americans who have backed President Trump and his agenda.” In a related development, another set of unions initiated a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. late Wednesday, though the implications of this new challenge remain uncertain.
According to McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management, approximately 75,000 federal employees accepted the resignation offer, allowing them to receive pay until September 30. Pinover described the deferred resignation program as providing “generous benefits so federal workers can plan for their futures,” although it is no longer accepting new participants.
Everett Kelley, the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed that the union’s legal team is currently evaluating potential next steps in response to the judge’s ruling. “Today’s decision represents a setback in our ongoing battle for fairness and dignity for public workers,” Kelley stated. “However, this isn’t the conclusion of our efforts. Notably, this ruling does not address the fundamental legality of the program.”
The union asserts that it is unjust to compel citizens to make an important life decision within a brief timeframe without sufficient information, effectively uprooting their families and careers. The statement highlighted concerns over what it termed an “unfunded IOU from Elon Musk.”
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. concluded that the unions lack legal standing to contest the program, pointing out that they were not adversely affected by the initiative, which is often referred to as a buyout. O’Toole was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.
Elon Musk has been a primary proponent of the deferred resignation program, serving as Trump’s chief adviser on reducing federal expenses. The initiative allows federal employees to cease work while receiving payment until September 30.
Labor unions have characterized the plan as unlawful and sought to persuade Judge O’Toole to suspend it, preventing the Office of Personnel Management from recruiting additional workers for participation. A representative from the Justice Department has described the plan as a “humane off ramp” for federal employees who have adapted their lives around remote work policies but are now being required to return to office settings.
