WASHINGTON — Federal Railroad Administration employees were among the government workers offered buyouts as part of the sweeping changes the Trump administration is making to streamline the federal government.
But the FRA’s 350 rail safety inspectors were exempt from the “deferred resignation program” due to their role in protecting public safety, an agency spokesman says.
The FRA employs 1,200 people in total. Today is the deadline for federal workers to respond to the offer, which was made on Jan. 28.
Unions representing federal workers have challenged the resignation program in federal court. A federal judge in Massachusetts last week put a temporary stay on the program that will last at least until a preliminary hearing scheduled for this afternoon.
Some two million federal workers are eligible for the so-called Fork in the Road program. The Trump administration expects 5% to 10% of federal employees to leave the government voluntarily.
Meanwhile, a Senate confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled for President Trump’s nominee to lead the FRA, former Pan Am Railways President David Fink.
It was unclear how many employees of the Surface Transportation Board might be eligible for the buyout program. A board spokesman did not respond to Trains News Wire email request for information last week.
