Washington DC [US], February 7: A federal judge in the United States has temporarily postponed the deadline for federal employees to decide on the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer, originally set for February 6. The new deadline is now Monday, following a lawsuit filed by several federal unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
The delay was confirmed just after 5 pm ET when the administration sent an email to federal workers informing them of the court-ordered extension. However, the email did not mention the possibility of any further delays, with a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon to discuss the issue.
Previously, eligible federal employees were required to decide by 11:59 pm ET on Thursday whether to accept an offer that would allow them to leave their positions while still receiving pay through the end of September. The delay follows a lawsuit filed by AFGE, AFSCME, and the National Association of Government Employees in a Massachusetts court on Tuesday, seeking a temporary restraining order to block the February 6 deadline for the “Fork Directive.”
The unions argue that the “Fork Directive” presents an unlawful and arbitrary ultimatum for workers, pressuring them to choose between resignation or potential job loss without compensation. They are also demanding that the government present a lawful policy instead of what they consider a hastily imposed, unlawful decision.
The AFGE claims that the directive is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to implement Project 2025, which they argue aims to remove career public service workers and replace them with politically motivated individuals loyal to the administration.
US District Judge George O’Toole, appointed by President Bill Clinton, issued the ruling after a brief hearing, stating that he would pause the plan’s implementation while he reviewed more information on whether it should be blocked permanently.
Unions have strongly advised their members not to accept the deferred resignation offer, questioning both its legality and the Trump administration’s ability to uphold its promises. As of Thursday, at least 65,000 federal workers had opted into the program, according to a White House official.