Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Judge Removes Hurdle for Trump's Plan to Trim Federal Workforce
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 month ago on
February 13, 2025

A federal judge's ruling clears the way for Trump's controversial plan to reduce the federal workforce through deferred resignations. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Share

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Wednesday removed a key legal hurdle stalling President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce with a deferred resignation program.

The Boston-based judge’s order in the challenge filed by a group of labor unions was a significant legal victory for the Republican president after a string of courtroom setbacks.

“This goes to show that lawfare will not ultimately prevail over the will of 77 million Americans who supported President Trump and his priorities,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Another group of unions filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. late Wednesday, though its potential impacts were not immediately clear.

Thousands Accept Deferred Resignation Offer

About 75,000 federal workers accepted the offer to quit in return for being paid until Sept. 30, according to McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management. She said the deferred resignation program “provides generous benefits so federal workers can plan for their futures,” and it was now closed to additional workers.

American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement that the union’s lawyers are assessing the next steps.

“Today’s ruling is a setback in the fight for dignity and fairness for public servants,” Kelley said. “But it’s not the end of that fight. Importantly, this decision did not address the underlying lawfulness of the program.”

The union continues to maintain that it’s illegal to force American citizens to make a decision, in a few short days, without adequate information, about “whether to uproot their families and leave their careers for what amounts to an unfunded IOU from Elon Musk,” the statement said.

Judge’s Ruling on Union Challenge

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston found that the unions weren’t directly affected, so they didn’t have legal standing to challenge the program, commonly described as a buyout. O’Toole was nominated by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

The deferred resignation program has been spearheaded by Elon Musk, who is serving as Trump’s top adviser for reducing federal spending. Under the plan, employees can stop working and get paid until Sept. 30.

Labor unions argued the plan is illegal and asked for O’Toole to keep it on hold and prevent the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, from soliciting more workers to sign up.

A Justice Department lawyer has called the plan a “humane off ramp” for federal employees who may have structured their lives around working remotely and have been ordered to return to government offices.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

DON'T MISS

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

DON'T MISS

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

DON'T MISS

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

DON'T MISS

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

DON'T MISS

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

DON'T MISS

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

UP NEXT

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

UP NEXT

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

UP NEXT

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

UP NEXT

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

UP NEXT

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

UP NEXT

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

UP NEXT

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

UP NEXT

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

UP NEXT

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

UP NEXT

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

1 day ago

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

1 day ago

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

1 day ago

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

1 day ago

US Imposes Sanctions on Thai Officials After Uyghur Men Are Deported to China

1 day ago

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-Run HR in Return to Japan Against Yomiuri Giants

1 day ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Robert Brown had tried everything for his pain, from acupu...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

19 hours ago

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Pool via AP)
1 day ago

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

1 day ago

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend