Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside a coalition of 20 state attorneys general, is supporting federal employees in challenging the Trump administration's "buyout" plan known as the "Fork in the Road" directive. This directive requires federal workers to decide quickly between accepting a controversial "buyout" or facing potential job termination.
Raoul and his coalition have filed an amicus brief supporting a motion for a temporary restraining order by plaintiffs including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE Local 3707, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the National Association of Government Employees. These groups are contesting the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s directive issued on January 28, which allowed federal employees just over a week to accept "deferred resignations." These resignations would let them retain pay and benefits without working until September 30, 2025, with the underlying threat that their jobs might be eliminated otherwise.
"Federal workers fill roles providing essential services to millions of Americans: from supporting veterans, to partnering with states like Illinois to investigate offenders who prey on our children," Raoul stated. He criticized the buyout offer as an attempt to intimidate employees out of their jobs without ensuring promised benefits. He added, "I stand with our federal workers against this attempt to sow confusion and anxiety."
The plaintiff unions filed their lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. They argue that both the directive and its frequently revised FAQs have caused confusion among federal employees due to an arbitrary deadline based on what they claim is an illegal directive contrary to federal ethics regulations. The district court stayed this deadline until February 10, pending a hearing in Boston.
In their proposed amicus brief, Raoul emphasized that losing key federal employees could severely impact cooperative efforts between federal, state, and local governments. The brief highlights how coercive the directive is toward public servants. Raoul and his colleagues urged the court to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent harm to federal workers and protect public interests.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in this effort are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont and Washington.