A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees.
The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to apply for the deferred resignation program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston directed the administration to extend that deadline until after a court hearing he scheduled for Monday afternoon. O’Toole did not express an opinion on the legality of the program, which is being challenged by several labor unions, and said he would weigh arguments next week.
At the White House, press secretary Karoline Levitt said more than 40,000 federal workers have applied to leave in return for being paid until Sept. 30.
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