Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside a coalition of 20 counterparts from various states, took a definitive stance supporting federal employees against the controversial "Fork in the Road" federal buyout plan. Raoul, representing Illinois, is voicing concern over the Trump administration's directive that pressures federal workers to rapidly decide their employment future—accept a buyout or possibly face job termination.
According to the Illinois Attorney General's office, Raoul and the attorneys general are backing the motion for a temporary restraining order put forth by plaintiff unions against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The "Fork directive," announced on January 28, gave federal employees just over a week until February 6, to opt for "deferred resignations," allowing them to leave their jobs but keep their pay and benefits until the end of September 2025. The threat implied in this initiative is a potential elimination of their jobs, regardless of the decision to accept the buyout or not.
Federal workers, Raoul argues, are crucial in delivering essential services to Americans, including care for veterans and participating in investigations of crimes against children. "The abrupt loss of vital federal employees would have a devastating effect on our residents who depend on the expertise and services federal workers provide, as well as our state economies," Raoul stressed. In the legal challenge, the plaintiff unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Association of Government Employees, pointed out the directive's legality was questionable and conflicted with federal ethics regulations.
The District Court in Massachusetts responded to the unions' concerns by putting a hold on the "Fork directive's" deadline, initially set for February 6, and scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. EST in Boston today. Raoul has urged the court to consider the crippling impact on federal and state partnerships, and the coalition implores the judge to prevent potential harm to these employees—and by extension, the public interest—through the temporary restraining order. The attorneys general joining Raoul span states from Arizona to Washington, signaling widespread dissent against the buyout directive.
Amidst the legal battle, federal employees remain in limbo. The direction the court decides to take could influence the livelihoods of thousands and the operations of essential services that depend on these federal workers across the nation.
