Washington: U.S. federal judge issued a temporary extension for federal employees to decide on the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer, originally due by February 6. The new deadline is set for Monday, after a lawsuit from several federal unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Shortly after 5 PM ET, the administration informed federal workers via email about the court-ordered delay, though it did not indicate the possibility of further extensions during a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon. Prior to this ruling, eligible federal employees had until 11:59 PM ET on Thursday to decide on the resignation offer, which would allow them to leave their jobs while still receiving pay until the end of September.
The lawsuit was initiated by the AFGE, AFSCME, and the National Association of Government Employees in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the February 6 deadline associated with the so-called “Fork Directive.” The unions requested the government to provide a lawful policy instead of an arbitrary ultimatum that could complicate employees’ choices.
The AFGE characterized the “Fork Directive” as part of Project 2025’s aggressive agenda to replace career public service workers with partisan loyalists, framing it as an ultimatum for numerous federal employees: resign now or risk job loss without compensation in the future. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole, appointed by President Bill Clinton, made the ruling after a brief hearing, indicating he would review more information regarding the potential need to block the initiative.
Federal unions have strongly advised members against accepting the resignation package, expressing concerns about its legality and the Trump administration’s ability to fulfill its promises. As of Thursday, at least 65,000 federal workers had already signed up for the deferred resignation program, according to a White House official.