A recent court order has temporarily halted a federal worker “buyout” plan, providing the Trump administration with more time to persuade employees to opt for early resignation. The administration initially resisted extending the deadline, citing disruptions. However, the extension grants an additional four days for the administration to intensify its efforts in encouraging federal employees to participate in the deferred resignation program.
Deadline Extension and Employee Response
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) communicated the deadline extension in an email to government employees, moving the cutoff to Monday at 11:59 p.m. The email, titled “Fork in the Road: Deadline Extended to Monday,” emphasized compliance with a recent court order. Employees were advised to reply “resign” to engage in the program, clarifying that despite media reports, the program remains active and unblocked.
By the time of the extension, over 60,000 employees had accepted the offer, falling short of the government's target of 5 to 10 percent participation. Originally set for Thursday at 11:59 p.m., the deadline had caused confusion among federal workers due to inconsistent communications.
Lawsuit and Public Reaction
Rushab Sanghvi, the general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employee, expressed that the legal action aims to ensure the proper and lawful execution of the program rather than its elimination. The OPM's social media posts reiterated the new deadline amid ongoing confusion among federal workers.
Judge George O’Toole's temporary order paused the deadline, allowing for a hearing on Monday to address the related legal challenges. Meanwhile, the Trump administration, alongside billionaire Elon Musk, created an environment aimed at enticing employees to consider early resignation, despite skepticism among workers regarding the government's commitment.
Challenges and Responses
While some employees hesitated to accept the offer, concerned about the government fulfilling its promises, others received emails assuring them of compensation protection and work flexibility. Musk's online provocations added to the tense atmosphere, coinciding with reports of potential mass firings through executive orders.
OPM's chief information officer acknowledged the technological constraints in notifying all employees promptly, ensuring compliance with the court's directives. Greg Hogan highlighted the system's limitations in sending mass emails simultaneously, potentially causing delays in employee notifications.
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