Fri Feb 07 03:12:11 UTC 2025: ## Judge Halts Musk’s Mass Buyout Plan for US Federal Workers
**Washington D.C.** – A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musk’s controversial plan to drastically reduce the size of the US government workforce through a mass buyout scheme. The injunction, issued Thursday, halts a midnight deadline Musk had set for over two million federal employees to accept eight months’ severance pay or face potential termination.
The plan, orchestrated by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been met with fierce resistance from labor unions and Democratic lawmakers who question its legality. A hearing is scheduled for Monday to determine the plan’s future.
While over 40,000 employees reportedly accepted the buyout offer, unions representing some 800,000 civil servants argue the scheme amounts to coercion. The broader campaign, fueled by rhetoric from President Trump and his administration against government workers, has already caused significant disruption across various agencies.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been particularly hard hit, with its global workforce slated for a drastic reduction from over 10,000 to fewer than 300, according to union officials. This has raised serious concerns about the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian aid.
The plan has also targeted the CIA and the Department of Education, with proposals to significantly downsize both. Furthermore, a plan to slash the government’s real estate portfolio by at least 50 percent, excluding Department of Defense buildings, has been put forward.
Controversy also surrounds Musk’s access to sensitive government data, including the Treasury’s payment system. While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insists access was limited to two employees with read-only privileges, one of these employees has since resigned following revelations of racist and eugenicist social media posts.
The legality of the buyout offer itself is also being questioned, with unions arguing the lack of Congressional approval renders the agreements potentially worthless. Critics describe the plan as a “slick con” aimed at crippling the government through mass resignations, while Musk portrays it as an opportunity for employees to “chill” while receiving full pay and benefits. The ongoing legal battle and the significant disruption already experienced raise serious concerns about the long-term impact on vital government services.
First Piper 