Government Buyout Program Is Proceeding After New Ruling: Things to Know

A federal judge on Feb. 12 allowed the buyout program for government workers initiated by the Trump administration to proceed, ruling against unions that sued to block it. Here’s what to know. Plaintiffs Failed to Show Standing Unions said they were entitled to a restraining order against the buyouts because they would be forced to expend resources that could not be recovered to help their members as they navigated the program. The unions also said that if the buyouts went through, they could “lose members in significant numbers.” However, those alleged harms aren’t enough to show standing or a personal stake in the dispute, U.S. District Judge George O’Toole wrote in his ruling....