A U.S. judge on Wednesday gave the green light for Donald Trump's administration to move forward with a buyout program for federal workers. This initiative could see tens of thousands of employees leaving the government payroll as part of a massive effort to downsize the U.S. civil service. 🚀
U.S. District Judge George O'Toole in Boston ruled that the Deferred Resignation Program is both legal and a valuable option for federal employees, allowing the Trump administration to swiftly finalize the program after a brief legal challenge.
According to the Office of Personnel Management, the program is now closed to new applicants. However, labor unions that opposed the buyout plan have yet to announce whether they will appeal the decision.
Judge O'Toole determined that the unions lacked the standing to sue, as they wouldn't be directly affected by the program. Everett Kelly, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed disappointment, stating, \"Today's ruling is a setback in the fight for dignity and fairness for public servants. But it's not the end of that fight.\" 💪
The buyout is part of Trump's broader strategy to reduce the civilian workforce, which numbers 2.3 million. He's criticized the current system as ineffective and biased against his administration, ordering agencies to prepare for widespread job cuts. So far, several agencies have already laid off recent hires who lack full job security.
As of Friday, around 65,000 federal employees, roughly three percent of the total civilian workforce, had signed up for the buyouts, according to a White House official. 🏛️
Unions are urging their members to decline the buyout, warning that promises of continued salaries and benefits may not hold if current spending laws expire on March 14. The Department of Justice described the initiative as a \"humane off-ramp\" for frustrated federal workers.
Trump has also tasked billionaire Elon Musk with leading the Department of Government Efficiency to cut an additional $1 trillion from the federal budget by eliminating jobs and functions across various agencies.
With these sweeping changes, the future of the U.S. civil service hangs in the balance, as debates continue over government efficiency and workers' rights.
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U.S. judge allows Trump to proceed with government employee buyout
cgtn.com
