A federal judge announced on Wednesday that the deferred resignation program initiated by the Trump administration for federal employees can proceed. This decision enables the White House to implement a significant aspect of its strategy aimed at downsizing the federal workforce through substantial buyout offers.

Judge George A. O’Toole Jr., serving in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, did not rule on the legality of the program. Instead, he determined that the plaintiffs, which included unions representing federal employees, did not have direct involvement in the incentive plan, referred to as the “Fork in the Road,” and therefore lacked the standing to contest it.

Judge O’Toole noted, “The unions do not have the necessary direct interest in the Fork directive,” stressing that they were contesting a policy that primarily impacts executive branch employees. He concluded that such an indirect challenge does not meet the requirements for legal standing, as explained in his brief five-page ruling.

The unions had sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the implementation of the program. In his ruling, Judge O’Toole cited precedents from earlier cases that indicated the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the unions’ claims.

This ruling represents a victory for the Trump administration, which has faced various setbacks from other recent court decisions that have hindered efforts to halt federal spending and place a large number of employees on leave.

Earlier this week, the federal government notified its workforce that the deadline for participation in this program had been extended indefinitely, while still actively enrolling workers even as the judge reviewed the case. So far, over 65,000 employees have shown interest in the program.

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