New York Attorney General Letitia James has aligned with a group of 20 attorneys general in opposing the Trump administration's federal "buyout" plan. The coalition filed an amicus brief supporting a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) initiated by unions representing over 800,000 federal employees. These workers include nurses, school bus drivers, childcare providers, civil engineers, sanitation workers, and scientists.
Attorney General James stated that the plan to cut thousands of federal jobs is "dangerous and would be disastrous for our country." She emphasized the reliance of millions on federal employees for essential services such as healthcare and emergency response. James expressed her office's commitment to defending workers against what she described as a "reckless and unlawful directive."
The coalition's brief highlights the potential negative impact on cooperation between federal, state, and local governments if these jobs are lost. It also points out that the directive fails to provide necessary information regarding pensions, health benefits, reinstatement rights, retirement options, or other employee benefits. The coalition urged the court to issue a TRO to prevent harm to federal workers and protect public interest.
The unions have taken legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. They argue that the directive has caused confusion among employees who face an arbitrary deadline for accepting what they consider an illegal buyout offer contrary to federal ethics regulations. On February 6th, U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. postponed this deadline until February 10th when a hearing will occur.
Following the issuance of the "Fork in the Road" directive on February 3rd, Attorney General James led another group of attorneys general warning about its misleading nature and advising consultation with unions before making decisions.
The attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington and D.C., joined Attorney General James in submitting today's brief.