A federal judge paused President Trump’s sweeping buyout offer, delivering federal workers an extension until Monday to consider the deal.
The move comes as agencies in recent days ramped up pressure on employees, hoping to lure workers to leave voluntarily ahead of Thursday’s initial deadline, as Trump and his allies seek to reshape the government.
The president was delivered another blow in court Thursday afternoon after a second judge ruled against his executive order to eliminate birthright citizenship.
“It has become ever more apparent that, to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals.” the judge said in the ruling. “The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain.”
But Trump’s almost certain to get a win in the Senate later Thursday, as Russ Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) comes to a vote. Senate Democrats are digging their heels in ahead of the vote.
After the Senate voted along party lines to advance Vought’s nomination, Democrats stayed in the chamber overnight to make the case against the Project 2025 architect overseeing the government’s budget.
Earlier Thursday, Trump huddled with GOP leaders on Thursday at the White House to hammer out details on his budget priorities. But sorting this out may be easier said than done.
“I take it that the House and Senate leadership are having a hard time getting on the same page,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said.
Senate Republicans have called for a two-part budget bill while the House GOP is pushing for a one-bill blueprint, exposing conflicting strategies within the conference on how to enact the president’s agenda.
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