Judge allows Trump's deferred resignations plan for federal workers to proceed

Boston — A federal judge in Massachusetts allowed the Trump administration's offer of "deferred resignations" to federal workers who voluntarily leave government service to continue and lifted a previous court order pausing the program.

Judge George O'Toole, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ruled Wednesday that the plaintiffs in the case — unions that represent federal employees — lacked standing to bring the case in the first place. He also ruled he did not have the jurisdiction to stop the program from proceeding. 

The judge initially paused the deadline for workers to accept the offer last week and held a hearing on Monday over whether he should issue a temporary restraining order extending the pause.