Judge Lifts Temporary Restraining Order on Federal Buyout Offer for Employees

A federal judge on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its buyout offer that encourages federal workers to voluntarily resign, rejecting an attempt by labor unions to pause a program meant to shrink the government workforce.

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Massachusetts lifted a previous temporary order that blocked the buyout while he considered arguments by unions challenging it.

The judge, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, said in a five-page opinion that the unions lacked proper legal standing to challenge the buyout program because they were not directly impacted by it. He also said aggrieved employees could first bring any claims through an administrative review process.

The case, brought by the American Federation of Government Employees and other unions that represent federal workers, is part of a flurry of lawsuits challenging efforts by President Trump and his administration to radically overhaul the federal government and workforce.

Just days after Trump was sworn in, the Office of Personnel Management sent an offer to federal workers directing them to return full-time to the office. If they wanted to resign instead, they could receive pay and benefits through September. The original deadline for the offer was Feb. 6, and more than 60,000 employees accepted. The administration offered the voluntary resignation to more than 2 million federal workers, and the White House said it expected between 5% to 10% of them to take the deal.

The unions sued, saying that there was no guarantee workers would receive the promised eight months of pay if they left their job, and those who refused the offer could still lose their jobs through involuntary cuts. O’Toole put the deadline on hold to give him time to hold a hearing on the merits of the unions’ request for a temporary restraining order on the program.  Today, he decided against the Unions and lifted the Temporary Restraining Order.   The Buyout Plan can move ahead.

(HT REMARK:  The Winning continues!)