A federal judge extended indefinitely the deadline for government workers to accept a government buyout, as a lawsuit to block the offer continues in court.
U.S. District Court Judge George O’Toole heard arguments Monday over the legality of the offer, in which the Office of Personnel Management has pledged eight months of pay and benefits for those wishing to leave the federal service.
It’s O’Toole’s second extension for employees to take the offer, making a ruling just hours ahead of the original Thursday deadline to punt the timeline for taking the deal.
The Monday ruling gives federal employees more time to weigh the unusual offer, as O’Toole is still weighing a request for a preliminary injunction from unions that would bar what has become known as the “Fork in the Road” program.
The buyout offer faces numerous legal and logistical challenges. Unions suing over the offer have argued employees might find themselves out of luck when government funding terminates in March, as Congress has not authorized the spending for the program.
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