The American Federation of Government Employees and two other unions have filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s plan to offer buyouts to federal workers. The move comes as over 20,000 employees are expected to resign in the next few days.
The buyout program, which is set to close on Thursday, allows full-time civilian federal workers to stop working and receive pay and benefits through September 30. However, unions claim the plan is “arbitrary and capricious” and violates federal law.
The White House has defended the plan, stating that it is a voluntary effort to assist employees financially as the government scales down its workforce. The program has undergone extensive legal review and is exempting public safety employees from participation.
However, critics argue that the administration’s efforts to slash the size of the government are misguided and could have unintended consequences for the government’s ability to function. The unions also claim that the White House failed to consider the potential impact on mass resignations, including how it might affect the government’s ability to provide essential services.
The number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, with a spike expected in the 24-48 hours leading up to Thursday’s deadline. Public safety employees, such as air traffic controllers, are exempt from participating in the program.
As the Trump administration continues its efforts to downsize the government, critics argue that this move will have far-reaching consequences for public servants and the country at large.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/more-than-20000-us-government-employees-willing-quit-source-says-2025-02-04