A federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order, halting the Trump administration's "Fork in the Road" buyout program for federal employees. Judge George O'Toole announced that the matter is under review, but no timeline for a final decision has been set.

Following the court ruling in Boston, Elena Goldstein, lead attorney for the labor unions challenging the administration, expressed satisfaction with the continued injunction against the buyout directive. She emphasized hope that the decision would reassure civil service workers of public support and pledged to pursue all legal avenues to protect their rights and uphold the law.

This hearing follows the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) emailing buyout offers to over two million federal civilian employees approximately two weeks prior. These offers were presented as a choice between resignation or continued employment, following a mandate from President Trump for employees to return to on-site work.

Democracy Forward, representing several labor unions, filed the lawsuit, arguing that the administration lacks the authority to distribute the buyout payments. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) informed its members that the offer doesn't guarantee resignation acceptance or benefit payment. The unions further contend that the buyout offer is "arbitrary and capricious," unlawful, and lacks guaranteed funding. They also express concern over the potential impact of mass resignations on government operations.

Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), dismissed the buyout offer as illegitimate, emphasizing its lack of legal and policy grounding and Congressional funding. He urged federal employees to reject the "shady tactic" and affirmed their dedication to their jobs and public service.

Despite these legal challenges, approximately 65,000 federal employees have reportedly accepted the buyout offer. The White House has been contacted for comment.