Trump wins court battle: Judge approves federal workforce downsizing plan

World news: A US federal judge on Wednesday approved President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation program, which aims to reduce the federal workforce. The ruling, delivered by Judge George O'Toole Jr. in Boston, marked a legal victory for the administration amid mounting tensions between the judiciary and the government. The unions challenging the initiative lacked legal standing to contest it. The unions had petitioned the court to halt the program, arguing it pressured employees into resigning under financial incentives.

Reacting to the verdict, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “This goes to show that lawfare will not ultimately prevail over the will of 77 million Americans who supported President Trump and his priorities.”

65,000 Federal employees already signed up

According to Bloomberg, over 65,000 federal employees have already opted into the program, which allows them to resign in exchange for an eight-month severance package while retaining benefits until September.

What is Trump’s deferred resignation program?

Launched on January 28, just days into Trump’s second term, the initiative aims to streamline the federal workforce. Employees received an email titled ‘Fork in the Road’, offering them a choice: resign voluntarily and receive severance pay while being exempted from in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025, or face potential layoffs in the future.

The program excludes military personnel, US Postal Service employees, and those in national security, immigration enforcement, or other roles explicitly protected by their agencies.

With Trump’s administration pushing forward with its workforce reduction strategy, the move is expected to reshape the structure of the federal government in the coming months.