Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 21 other attorneys general are supporting federal employees challenging the Trump administration’s “Fork in the Road” buyout plan. They have filed an amicus brief backing a request to block the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s directive. The plan gave employees until last Saturday to accept “deferred resignation,” allowing them to resign while keeping pay and benefits without working. The sudden directive and implied threats of furloughs or layoffs have caused concern, according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts is hearing a lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, and others, challenging a federal directive they claim is illegal and unethical. Michigan Attorney General Nessel warned it could disrupt federal and local services, affecting veteran care and disaster response. She stated, "The offers of an alleged deferred resignation were made across the board without consideration for mission needs or appropriate staffing levels and threaten the Federal government’s ability to provide necessary services to residents," as stated by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. has postponed the OPM’s deadline on Monday, with a hearing scheduled for that afternoon. A coalition has requested a temporary restraining order to prevent potential impacts on federal employees. Attorney General Nessel previously advised Michigan residents to be cautious about the deferred resignation offer and has now joined other state attorneys general in opposing the directive, as reported by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.