Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's Federal Employee Resignation Ultimatum

The plan, aimed at drastically reducing the federal workforce, faces legal challenges over claims of illegality and insufficient notice.

A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily halted the Trump administration's ultimatum requiring over two million federal employees to resign or risk termination, pending a new hearing set for Monday.
The administration's proposal offered employees continued pay and benefits until September 30, 2025, if they agreed to resign, but required them to waive future legal claims.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions have filed lawsuits, arguing the ultimatum is arbitrary, illegal, and fails to comply with labor laws.
Only 2% of the federal workforce, or approximately 40,000 employees, have accepted the resignation offer, far below the 5–10% target projected by Elon Musk, who is overseeing the initiative.
Critics, including unions and state attorneys general, warn that the plan is designed to destabilize the federal government, with agencies like USAID already facing severe staff reductions and operational halts.