Federal judge blocks Trump's, Musk's government buyout ultimatum

Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's proposal to federal employees to take government buyouts until a hearing can be held on Monday.

U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr. ruled Thursday that the administration cannot carry out its "so-called directive" until after a briefing and oral arguments take place, according to ABC News and POLITICO.

"I enjoined the defendants from taking any action to implement the so-called directive pending the completion of briefing and oral argument on the issues," said O'Toole. "I believe that's as far as I want to go today."

The hearing is set for Monday at 2 p.m. EST.

The federal employee buyout plan is part of the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk's effort to cut federal spending and the number of federal employees.

Late last month, the administration offered federal workers a "deferred resignation," with a deadline to enter into it by midnight on Thursday. It called for workers who do not wish to return to in-person work to voluntarily resign.

"If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal deferred resignation program," the memo sent to government employees read.

About 2.3 million federal employees received the memo. About 40,000 people accepted the offer as of last week.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees requested a restraining order to suspend the deadline, arguing that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The act requires that it provide a legal basis for the buyout and assurance that the government will follow through with payment.

The unions also note that the resignation offer promises to make payments to employees through September, despite the continuing resolution to fund the government expiring in March.

"To leverage employees into accepting the offer and resigning, the Fork Directive threatens employees with eventual job loss in the event that they refuse to resign," the lawsuit reads.