Judge Greenlights Trump's Controversial Federal Worker Buyout Plan

A U.S. federal judge allowed the Trump administration's plans to offer buyouts to tens of thousands of federal workers, a move aimed at slashing the civilian workforce. Unions opposed the plan, questioning its legality but were unable to halt it. Trump's initiative ties into broader budget cuts.

Tens of thousands of U.S. federal workers are now eligible for a buyout as President Donald Trump's administration moves forward with an unprecedented plan to shrink the federal workforce. This followed a ruling by a federal judge who determined that the unions lacked the legal standing to stop the initiative.

Unions representing these workers, however, cautioned that Trump's promise to pay the buyouts till October might not hold, as current spending laws lapse in March. The Deferred Resignation Program had been described as 'stunningly arbitrary' by union leaders, who warned it could severely impact vital government services.

In a broader strategy, Trump also tasked billionaire Elon Musk with heading a new Department of Government Efficiency, targeting a $1 trillion cut from the federal budget. This includes scrutinizing 15 agencies, with job cuts and dissolutions aimed at reducing what Trump sees as excess in government spending.