By: Richard L. Smith
In a bold stand for federal employees, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in challenging the Trump administration’s controversial “Fork in the Road” directive—a policy that forces federal workers into a difficult decision: accept a legally dubious “buyout” or risk potential termination. 
According to information released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the directive gives affected employees mere days to decide their fate, an approach that critics argue is coercive and unfair.
Attorney General Platkin strongly condemned the directive, calling it a tactic designed to intimidate public servants out of their jobs.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s ‘buyout’ scam is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate public servants out of their jobs,” said Platkin.
“Pushing hard-working federal employees out of the workforce doesn’t only harm the employees themselves, but also the State of New Jersey and our residents who will be deprived of key partners in the federal government and access to critical services.”
The coalition of attorneys general is backing a lawsuit filed by major federal employee unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Association of Government Employees.
These unions argue that the directive—issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on January 28, 2025—violates federal ethics regulations and creates unnecessary confusion among federal workers.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks to halt the policy’s implementation.
The directive initially required employees to accept “deferred resignation” by February 6, allowing them to retain pay and benefits until September 30, 2025—but with an implied threat that their positions may be eliminated regardless.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. temporarily blocked the directive’s deadline and scheduled a hearing for February 10, 2025, in Boston to further examine the case.
In their legal brief, Attorney General Platkin and his colleagues warn that the loss of key federal employees could have severe consequences.
From veterans’ healthcare to disaster relief efforts, the potential destabilization of essential government functions poses a significant risk to the public interest.
The coalition urges the court to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent immediate harm to affected workers and safeguard public services.
Attorney General Platkin is joined in this effort by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The outcome of this legal battle could set an important precedent for the rights of federal employees and the limits of executive authority over the federal workforce.
