Judge Inhibits Trump's Proposed Deferment of Resignation for Federal Employees Temporarily
Federal employees breathed a sigh of relief as a federal judge put a hold on the Trump administration's controversial "deferred resignation" offer, granting a labor union-led lawsuit's request for a delay. The decision came just hours before the deadline was set to expire.
U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole Jr., based in Massachusetts, issued the ruling, giving the labor unions time to respond with their objections. He scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon to hear both sides.
Under the terms of the deferred resignation program, federal workers who resigned on their own volition would continue receiving full pay and benefits through September 30. The Judge ordered the government to extend the deadline and inform all affected employees immediately.
"In compliance with the court order, the deadline for federal employees to accept the deferred resignation program is being extended to Monday, Feb. 10, at 11:59 p.m., EST," the Federal Office of Personnel Management announced on social media. "The program is NOT being blocked or canceled. The government will honor the deferred resignation offer."
The Trump administration has construed this ruling as a victory, suggesting that the extension might encourage more federal employees to leave their jobs. White House Press Secretary Karole Leavitt commented, "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."
However, the labor unions view the resignation offer as "arbitrary and capricious in numerous respects." They argue that the offer is merely the Trump administration's ploy to replace career employees with loyalists. Moreover, attorneys claim that the offer jeopardizes employees' income and benefits, as funding for most federal agencies will expire in mid-March. The Trump administration would reportedly spend money "before an appropriation is authorized."
The controversy surrounding the deferred resignation program stems from the Trump administration's broader initiative to downsize the federal workforce, which faced legal challenges from labor unions and some cities. The effort included an executive order signed by President Trump in 2025, targeting various departments, including Agriculture, Energy, Labor, Interior, State, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, the National Science Foundation, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The program offered federal employees the option to leave voluntarily, rather than face involuntary layoffs due to job cuts and reorganization efforts. Approximately 75,000 employees have taken up the deferred resignation option, with thousands more probationary workers being cut in the process. For example, over 1,400 employees signed up for the deferred resignation program at the EPA alone.
The Trump administration's workforce reduction efforts faced opposition from labor unions, who believe the downsizing undermines job security, working conditions, and the functioning of federal agencies. The forced reductions and incentivized resignations are seen as detrimental, potentially jeopardizing critical areas such as public safety and environmental protections. Unions also challenged the legality of the executive order in court, arguing that the Trump administration did not have the authority to carry out such sweeping cuts without legislative approval or union input. [1][2][4][5]
This ruling in the case of the deferred resignation program falls under the category of policy-and-legislation, as it involves a federal judge's decision affecting a federal government policy.
The ongoing politics surrounding the deferred resignation program, which is part of the Trump administration's broader workforce reduction efforts, continues to be a significant item in the general news, with labor unions voicing their concerns about the program's impact on job security, working conditions, and the functioning of federal agencies.
