A federal judge temporarily blocked the February 6, 2025, deadline for the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer shortly before it expired. A White House official told the Associated Press that day that 65,000 federal workers had signed up; a later report put the number at about 75,000. The pause ended February 12, when the judge dissolved his order on procedural grounds—not by deciding whether the offer was lawful.
What was Trump’s federal worker buyout offer?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) called it a “deferred resignation” program; “buyout” was common shorthand. OPM emailed the offer to federal employees on January 28, 2025, under the subject line “Fork in the Road.” Employees who accepted were to receive pay and benefits through September 30, 2025, unless they chose an earlier resignation date. The offer also exempted participants from applicable in-person work requirements during the deferred period, subject to the program’s terms. OPM’s original offer email described participation as voluntary.
The offer did not cover everyone. OPM materials listed exclusions including military personnel, Postal Service employees, and certain national security, immigration enforcement, and public safety roles, as well as positions excluded by agencies. OPM’s program FAQ addressed eligibility and other practical questions.
Why did a judge pause the federal buyout deadline?
OPM initially set the deadline for midnight on February 6. Federal employee unions challenged the program. On February 6, U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. temporarily restrained the government from enforcing the deadline. After a hearing on February 10, he kept the pause in place while considering the unions’ challenge. The Washington Post reported on the hearing and continued pause on February 10: the court was still weighing whether to grant further relief.
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The order was temporary, not an extension with a new deadline set in advance. It prevented the government from enforcing the original cutoff while the court considered the challenge.
How many federal workers accepted?
The figures refer to different dates and sources, so the February 6 number should not be treated as the final total.
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| Date reported | Reported acceptances | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2025 | 65,000 | A White House official told the Associated Press that workers had signed up to leave while receiving pay through September 30. AP’s February 6 report. |
| February 12, 2025 | About 75,000 | An OPM spokesperson gave the figure to the Associated Press after the pause ended. The court opinion also recounts an approximately 75,000 figure attributed to the White House, described there as roughly 3% of the federal civilian workforce. AP’s February 12 report; court opinion. |
These were contemporaneous reports of administrative figures, not a final independently audited accounting established in the cited sources.
What did the court decide on February 12?
On February 12, O’Toole dissolved the temporary restraining order and denied the unions’ request for further preliminary relief. The court concluded that the unions lacked standing and that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over their claims. That procedural ruling removed the pause; it did not decide the program’s legality on its merits. The court opinion sets out the ruling and chronology.
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After the order was dissolved, OPM closed the program on February 12. The archived offer email now says the program is closed. The American Federation of Government Employees’ president, Everett Kelley, called the ruling “a setback in the fight for dignity and fairness for public servants,” while adding, “Importantly, this decision did not address the underlying lawfulness of the program,” according to AP’s February 12 report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the offer say about nonresponse or changing your mind?
OPM’s FAQ said that employees who did not respond or accept had no obligation under the offer. It also said that an employee who accepted and later sought to rescind the decision needed agency review; rescission was not automatic. An employee with an approved absence during the open period could request an extension. These statements describe the FAQ’s terms, not a guarantee that an agency would approve a rescission or extension. Read OPM’s FAQ.
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