A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted the Trump administration's buyout offer to federal employees, pending a court hearing. This development comes after more than 60,000 federal employees, representing about 3% of the workforce, accepted the offer. Judge George O'Toole Jr. issued an injunction suspending the Thursday night deadline for employees to accept the buyout. The program, known as the "Fork Directive," allows employees to resign but continue receiving pay and benefits until the end of September.
Federal agencies must now inform employees who received the buyout offer that it has been enjoined until at least Monday. The injunction will remain in place until the court hearing, where Judge O'Toole will consider the merits of the lawsuit filed by a group of unions representing federal workers. The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the program and seeking a declaration that the offer is not lawful as issued.
The lawsuit claims that important information is missing from the buyout offer, including whether the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will continue to pay benefits after September. The Trump administration had set a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday for federal employees to accept the buyout, following a mass email stating there would be no extension.
The unions argue that the buyout offer pressures employees into resigning by threatening potential job loss if they do not comply.
"To leverage employees into accepting the offer and resigning, the Fork Directive threatens employees with eventual job loss in the event that they refuse to resign" – The suit
The "Fork Directive" allows federal employees to submit a deferred resignation, meaning they would no longer have to work but would continue receiving their salaries and benefits until September's end. However, concerns over future benefits and job security have prompted legal action.
The lawsuit represents a significant challenge to the administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce through voluntary buyouts. The outcome of Monday's hearing will determine whether the program can proceed as planned or if further modifications are necessary.
The federal workforce comprises approximately 2 million individuals, with over 60,000 having already accepted the buyout offer. The unions' lawsuit implies that these employees may not have been fully informed about all aspects of the program before making their decision.
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