Federal judge to again extend White House “fork” deadline

A federal district judge in Massachusetts will continue to hold up the White House’s planned deferred resignation program for federal employees.

CNN and other news outlets reported Monday evening that U.S. District judge George O’Toole, Jr. said from the bench he plans to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the latest deadline for President Donald Trump’s so-called “fork-in-the-road” buyout program. 

O’Toole, who made the comment following a motions hearing, promised to subsequently file a written order spelling out how long the deadline will be delayed.

The original deadline was Thursday Feb. 6, but the judge held that up until hearing oral arguments on Monday. Meanwhile the rumor mill across the Department of Energy’s weapons complex is speculating many managers, including senior executives from the department, could decide to leave.

“The court orders that the current stay of the February 6, 2025, deadline to remain in effect until further order of the court,” according to an online notice following Monday’s motions hearing. The matter is “taken under advisement.”

Last week the organization Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against the buyout program on behalf of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE Local 3707, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the National Association of Government Employees. 

The plaintiffs claim the program carried out by President Donald Trump’s Office of Personnel Management does not comply with the law.

“Public service on behalf of the American people is not something to be bought and sold,” said Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement. “We are pleased that the court has continued to pause implementation of the so-called “buy out” for non-partisan civil servants.”

The Trump administration has said eligible federal employees who take the offer could be paid through September and not be exposed to potential future layoffs. But Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has said the administration cannot guarantee that because the government’s current stopgap funding measure expires in mid-March.