A federal judge, George O’Toole Jr.

The ruling, issued on Thursday, came just hours before the midnight deadline for workers to apply for the controversial deferred resignation program, commonly referred to as a buyout.

According to the Daily Post, Judge O’Toole, based in Boston, did not rule on the legality of the program but scheduled a hearing for Monday at 2 p.m. EST to further review the case. He also ordered the administration to extend the application deadline until after the hearing, ensuring federal employees have more time before making a decision.

The temporary block comes amid lawsuits from multiple labor unions opposing Trump’s workforce downsizing initiative. Reports suggest that Elon Musk, a top adviser, played a key role in orchestrating the plan, which aims to reshape the federal government by reducing its size.

As the legal battle unfolds, the future of the buyout program remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.