Judge Halts Federal Worker Buyout Program Amid Concerns of Political Purge
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a controversial buyout package offered to federal employees as an incentive to resign, halting the program hours before its deadline, Al Jazeera reports.
US District Judge George O’Toole granted the stay late Thursday, citing the need for the court to fully consider arguments brought forth by labor unions representing nearly 800,000 government workers.
The buyout, part of a broader initiative spearheaded by former President Donald Trump to reduce the size of the federal government, was scheduled to expire at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (03:59 GMT, Friday). The package promised workers their salaries through October if they agreed to leave their positions.
The unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), filed the lawsuit challenging the buyout, arguing it is part of a politically motivated effort to purge the federal government of career civil servants.
During his campaign and after being sworn in for a second term on January 20th, Trump, with support from figures like Elon Musk, openly pledged to reduce the federal workforce, targeting what he referred to as “Biden bureaucrats.” Critics argue that such rhetoric undermines the nonpartisan nature and essential role of civil servants, who are vital to the smooth functioning of government regardless of political transitions.
The federal court in Massachusetts is scheduled to hear full arguments in the case starting Monday.
The Trump administration has defended the buyout offer, arguing it’s a voluntary program designed to streamline government operations. However, reports have surfaced suggesting that the Department of Education, an agency Trump has previously indicated he wants to abolish, warned staff that their paychecks could be terminated at any time.
According to statements by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, some 40,000 federal workers, representing about 2 percent of the government’s civilian workforce, accepted the offer. She also addressed remote workers, urging them to comply with the mandate to return to the office.
Beyond questioning the political allegiance of federal workers, Trump has also consistently criticized the size of the workforce as a sign of government bloat.
The federal government, the largest employer in the US, employs more than two million people across various sectors, including the military and education.
