In an effort to cut the out-of-control government spending that has plagued the ranks of the U.S. government for years, especially under former President Joe Biden, President Donald Trump took a new approach to cutting back the fat.

In a bombshell announcement upon entering office, Trump said he would offer buyout opportunities for tens of thousands of government workers in an effort to entice them to resign.

While the plan was celebrated by many, according to JustTheNews, a federal judge blocked the president's buyout approach, at least for now. 

The federal judge's decision came right before the buyout plan application deadline, causing many to wonder if the program will remain an option.

What's going on?

In a stunning and clever move, Trump's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent out a memo last week offering millions of government employees a buyout option.

JustTheNews noted:

Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an offer to millions of employees last week. The offer allows employees to retain benefits and be paid through September if they agree to opt out by Feb. 6.

The offer went to all federal employees except military personnel, those who work in national security and immigration, and postal workers.

Before the judge had blocked the program -- or at least suspended it pending further litigation -- at least 20,000 government workers took the deal.

If the Trump administration's numbers come to fruition, assuming the program is eventually allowed to move forward, the reduction in federal employee payroll would save taxpayers some $100 billion per year.

The move is one of many being made to drastically slash government waste, with the help of Elon Musk and the unofficial Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Unions stepping in

Not surprisingly, some of the major unions representing the various sectors of government workers are urging the employees to reject the buyout offer.

"Union leaders and politicians telling federal workers to reject this offer are doing them a serious disservice,” OPM’s director of communications, McLaurine Pinover, told The Epoch Times.

"This is a rare, generous opportunity, one that was thoroughly vetted and intentionally designed to support employees through restructuring," Pinover added.

It'll be interesting to see how many government employees take the offer if the program gets back on track legally.