Several labour unions have initiated legal proceedings against the Trump administration, expressing concerns over potential mass terminations of federal employees who are hesitant to accept buyout offers.
In a formal complaint submitted to the federal court in Washington, D.C., the unions allege that the White House and other entities within the Executive Branch are infringing upon Congress’s authority in establishing and funding the federal workforce, thereby violating the principles of separation of powers.
The unions involved in the lawsuit include the United Auto Workers, the National Treasury Employees Union, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.
The lawsuit names ten defendants, including Trump, agency heads, the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management.
Previously, unions had already filed lawsuits against the Trump administration in an attempt to prevent the buyouts from occurring. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Boston upheld a block on the buyout plan for federal employees on Monday, while he deliberates whether to extend the block for a longer duration.
This legal decision temporarily halts the Trump administration’s implementation of the buyout plan, and also grants a provisional victory to the labour unions that have filed lawsuits to completely stop it.
“Defendants’ ultimatum divides federal workers into two groups: (1) those who submit their resignations to OPM for a promised period of pay without the requirement to work, and (2) those who have not and are therefore subject to threat of mass termination,” the lawsuit stated.
Concurrently, on Tuesday, Trump instructed U.S. agencies to collaborate closely with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to identify federal employees who may be subject to layoffs.