A setback for Elon Musk’s plan to gut the federal workforce

The Logoff is a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff. Today’s edition is about a court order pushing back Elon Musk’s deadline for federal workers to take him up on his offer for a deferred resignation. That might sound niche, but it’s important for anyone who relies on a functional government. It also offers an insight into how the courts might derail Donald Trump’s broader agenda — if he complies with their orders. What’s the latest? Midnight was supposed to be the deadline for workers to decide whether they would take Musk’s DOGE up on the offer to resign at the end of September, with (possibly) paid time off until then. But a federal judge suspended that deadline until Monday, setting up a per-deadline hearing to determine whether the “deferred resignation” offer was even legal. So, is it legal? Well, a Georgetown Law School professor told Vox this: “They’re making a promise that is contrary to federal law — and that has very serious consequences.” Are people taking the DOGE offer? The White House says about 40,000 federal workers have accepted the offer — the federal government employs about 2.4 million people, though not all of them have been offered the buyout. What’s the point of the offer? Relatively few workers have taken it so far, but the offer is part of a broader plan — alongside threats of coming mass layoffs — to shrink the federal workforce at breakneck speed. It’s a bet that Trump’s team can rapidly cut the workforce without undermining the government’s ability to perform the essential services we depend on. What’s the bigger context? Instead of pushing his agenda through Congress, Trump is claiming massive new powers for the executive branch and, specifically, for himself. But for that to work, he needs the courts to go along. If they won’t, Trump will either have to defy the courts — triggering a constitutional crisis even larger than the one we’re in already — or watch as big chunks of his agenda will fall apart. And with that, it’s time to log off ... Say you, hypothetically, were experiencing anxiety these days? And say, on top of that, you were struggling to focus? I can relate, which is why I found this Vox piece on journaling so helpful. It’s about the “solid scientific proof that the simple act of writing about our feelings is good for our brains,” and it’s a nice reminder to take care of oneself. See you back here tomorrow.