A federal judge has temporarily paused a controversial resignation offer aimed at federal employees just hours before the deadline for acceptance. The order comes as the White House hopes to encourage more workers to resign, citing the program as a "once-in-a-lifetime offer."
The deadline for federal employees to accept the resignation package was set for 23:59 EST on Thursday, which is 04:59 GMT on Friday. However, a lawyer from the Justice Department announced that the deadline would be suspended, allowing more time for employees to consider the offer. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed that it would continue processing resignations until an extended deadline of 23:59 local time on the following Monday.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed gratitude to the judge for the extension, emphasizing the administration’s desire to see more employees take advantage of the offer, particularly those who have not been reporting to work. "It’s going to save the American people tens of millions of dollars," she stated outside the White House prior to the judge’s intervention.
The resignation program, which the Trump administration initially anticipated would attract around 200,000 employees, has faced legal challenges from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The union filed a lawsuit claiming the OPM had violated legal protocols, lacked funding for the initiative, and provided inconsistent information regarding the offer’s terms. The AFGE has voiced concerns that the resignation offer is part of a broader effort to undermine the civil service, replacing experienced federal workers with less qualified political appointees and contractors.
The union also highlighted the uncertainty regarding government funding, noting that Congress had not approved a budget beyond mid-March, raising questions about the ability of agencies to pay employees through September. Following the judge’s ruling, the AFGE expressed its satisfaction, viewing it as a positive development for federal workers.
The resignation offer, which caught many employees off guard, was communicated through a late-night email with the subject line "Fork in the Road," leading some to initially dismiss it as spam. Federal employees have expressed shock and confusion over the proposal, with some describing the tone of the email as alarming. Monet Hepp, a medical support specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, remarked that many felt blindsided by the sudden announcement.
Democrats have criticized the legality of the resignation package, warning that it could lead to a significant loss of expertise within the federal workforce, which would have detrimental effects on national security and government operations. Concerns have also been raised about potential cuts to key agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Health and Human Services.
As the situation unfolds, federal employees and lawmakers alike are closely monitoring the implications of this resignation offer and the ongoing legal battles surrounding it.