Trump administration's deadline for 'deferred resignation' postponed until next week

In a significant development, a federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the Trump administration to halt all activities related to the "deferred resignation" program for federal workers until next week. The judge's decision comes following a legal dispute initiated by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFSCME, and the National Association of Government Employees.

U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. has set a hearing for Monday afternoon to deliver oral arguments on the matter. Judge O'Toole has also ordered the government to inform all employees who received the original deferred resignation offer of the delayed deadline by Thursday evening.

The deferred resignation program, initiated by Trump and Elon Musk, offers most federal workers the option to quit this month while retaining their pay and benefits until the end of September. However, unions and employee groups have raised concerns about the program, arguing that it violates the Anti-Deficiency Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Justice Department, in a legal brief, argues that unions cannot challenge agency personnel policy in court, but employees can challenge their resignation if they believe it was coercive or in conflict with federal rules. The government's arguments, however, do not address the fact that the deferred resignation agreement requires employees to waive their right to pursue litigation related to their resignation.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley applauds the judge's decision to put the program on hold. Kelley, who has been at the forefront of the legal dispute, continues to believe that the deferred resignation program violates the law and will continue to aggressively defend members' rights.

NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald shares similar sentiments, stating that the deferred resignation program is a case of bait-and-switch, with employees originally promised pay not to work through September 30. Greenwald also states that the terms of the program are unreliable and cannot be trusted.

Internal Revenue Service workers, who were offered the same deferred resignation program, will need to work until May 15, even if they accept the deal. This development, according to Greenwald, proves that IRS employees are essential, and she welcomes the admission that IRS employees are vital to the agency mission.

Management at the Education Department is reported to have confirmed some workers' fears that agency heads could cancel employees' resignation agreements. The administration's requirement for IRS employees to work longer than promised adds to these concerns.

The unions are not the only ones warning federal workers not to accept the 'deferred resignation' offer. Democrats and experts have also urged caution, stating that the program's terms are unclear and could lead to financial instability for employees.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has granted VERA (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority) authority to all agencies, adding to the confusion surrounding the 'deferred resignation' program.

As the legal battle continues, federal workers await clarity on the future of the deferred resignation program and their rights under it.

Trump administration's deadline for 'deferred resignation' postponed until next week