Federal Judge Clears Key Legal Hurdle for Trump’s Federal Workforce Reduction Plan

A federal judge on Wednesday removed a major legal obstacle delaying President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce through a deferred resignation program.

Judge Dismisses Union Challenge

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston, marked a significant legal victory for Trump after previous courtroom setbacks. The challenge was brought by a coalition of labor unions opposing the plan.

“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.

Despite the ruling, another group of unions filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. However, the immediate impact of the new legal action remains unclear.

75,000 Federal Workers Accepted the Offer

McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), confirmed that about 75,000 federal employees had opted to resign under the program. Participants will continue receiving salaries until September 30.

“The deferred resignation program provides generous benefits so federal workers can plan for their futures,” Pinover said, adding that the program is now closed to additional applicants.

Labor Unions Condemn the Decision

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized the ruling and signaled potential further legal action.

“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 maintains that the program unfairly forces employees to make life-altering decisions in a short timeframe, with inadequate information.

Musk’s Role in Workforce Reduction

The deferred resignation program, often described as a buyout, has been led by Elon Musk, who serves as Trump’s top adviser on federal spending reductions. Under the plan, employees who voluntarily leave can continue receiving paychecks until September.

Unions argued the initiative was unlawful and sought a court order to halt it, preventing OPM from enrolling more workers. However, Judge O’Toole ruled that the unions lacked legal standing to challenge the program since they were not directly impacted.

Justice Department Defends the Program

A Justice Department attorney defended the initiative, describing it as a “humane off-ramp” for federal employees who had adapted to remote work and are now being required to return to physical offices.

As legal battles continue, the fate of Trump’s federal workforce reduction effort remains uncertain.

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