A U.S. judge is set to review President Donald Trump’s buyout proposal for two million federal workers as part of his initiative to restructure government agencies and reduce the federal workforce. The fate of the offer will be decided by U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Boston, as federal workers’ unions challenge the legality of the administration’s offer due to lack of congressional approval. Trump has enlisted Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, to oversee the downsizing of employees through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Concerns have risen over DOGE’s authority and access to sensitive information in government systems. The judge recently halted the deadline for workers to accept Trump’s buyout plan, prompting mixed reactions among employees. Despite uncertainties, more than 65,000 government workers have reportedly opted to take the offer. The situation remains tense as employees anticipate potential job losses and legal battles over the government’s actions.
In an act of defiance against the agency, Elon Musk took to his social media platform, X, and boldly posted “CFPB RIP.” This move stirred controversy and caught the attention of President Trump, who on Sunday expressed his belief that Musk could uncover billions of dollars of waste within military spending. The President indicated that once he directs the billionaire’s focus toward the Pentagon, significant revelations could come to light.
The dynamic duo of Trump and Musk has sparked a flurry of legal actions, with new lawsuits being filed almost daily. However, their efforts have met with some resistance. A push to significantly reduce the scope of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been temporarily halted following a judge’s ruling. Likewise, Trump’s ambitious plan to freeze trillions of dollars in federal loans, grants, and other forms of financial aid has been put on pause due to a separate legal challenge.
In a recent development, a judge intervened on Saturday to block the Department of Government Expenditure (DOGE) from gaining access to vital government systems utilized for processing transactions amounting to trillions of dollars at the Treasury Department. These ongoing events reflect a tumultuous period marked by power plays and legal battles in the nation’s capital.
(Reporting by Tim Reid in Washington; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond, Andy Sullivan, and David Shepardson; Editing by Ross Colvin, Andrea Ricci, and Richard Chang)
