A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with its controversial plan to downsize the federal workforce through a deferred-resignation program known as the “Fork in the Road.”
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole ruled that several unions lacked legal standing to challenge the program, which offers employees the option to resign now but remain on the payroll through September.
Judge Dismisses Union Challenges
The unions argued that the program, promoted by Trump adviser Elon Musk, lacked legal authorization and misled employees due to uncertain government funding beyond mid-March. However, O’Toole ruled that unions were not directly impacted and noted that individual employees could pursue administrative remedies.
Program Details and Impact
The “Fork in the Road” program initially set a deadline of Feb. 6 for employees to accept the offer. After the ruling, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reported that about 75,000 federal workers had agreed to resign under the program. Workers who did not accept the offer may face layoffs or stricter working conditions, such as mandatory in-office attendance five days a week.
Shortly after the ruling, OPM announced that the program was closed, rejecting any resignations submitted after 7:20 p.m. EST on Wednesday.
Legal Battles Continue
While O’Toole’s decision marks a win for the Trump administration, legal challenges are far from over. A new lawsuit filed by a Treasury Department union in Washington, D.C., seeks to declare the deferred-resignation program illegal.
This ruling stands out as a rare legal victory for Trump, who has faced numerous court challenges to his policy initiatives, including attempts to cut federal spending, end birthright citizenship, and grant Musk allies access to sensitive data.
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