On Politics

Thu Feb 6 2025

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Happy Thursday! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY.

Trump's buyout paused by judge hours before deadline

Hours before federal workers had to choose their path at the "fork in the road," a federal judge paused the Trump administration's deadline for 2.3 million federal employees to decide whether to resign or stay in their jobs. U.S. District Judge George O'Toole in Boston issued a temporary restraining order and set a hearing for Monday. Read more.

The order pauses an offer sent via email to all federal employees with the subject line: "The Fork in the Road." Workers were told they could keep their jobs and agree to new "reforms," or respond to the email with "Resign" in the subject line. If they chose to resign, they were offered pay and benefits through September. The looming decision has left federal workers fearful – about taking the resignation offer, which has no guarantee, and the future of a hostile workplace. Read more.

•	What to know after federal judge pauses Trump's buyouts for federal workers
•	Confusion spreads at Education Department amid buyout deadline
•	Pushed out by Elon Musk, Office of Personnel Management CFO resigns

Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast

President Donald Trump and Pastor Paula White attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast at Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS

A politics pit-stop

•	Trump to form task force aimed at rooting out 'anti-Christian bias'
•	Trump holds back billions in funding despite court ruling, states tell judge
•	Ronald Reagan's birthday: How the 40th president shaped Republican Party
•	Israel's military to create plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza Strip

Why Trump's military deportation flights cost more than charters

President Donald Trump has said he wants to cut back on government spending. But as the president's administration pursues his plans for mass deportation, that goal doesn't seem to be at the fore. The Trump administration's use of military aircraft for deportation flights is costing the U.S. more and moving fewer migrants than lower-priced commercial charter flights. Read more.

•	Texas National Guard granted authority to make immigration arrests
•	New survey highlights mixed views of evangelicals on immigration

You asked. On Politics answers: How's the buyout program possible?

I know it's been a while. But we're back and I'm happy to answer any question readers have. Mary Jane Mikuriya of San Francisco, California asked: "How is it possible for all those government auditors to be fired if they work for the government and not the president?"

The directives came from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which was taken over by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Elon Musk, the richest man in the world who is a top Donald Trump ally, leads DOGE, which Trump created via an executive order. It's now before a federal judge who will decide whether the government can do that or even offer the resignation buyout proposal.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.