A federal judge paused a Trump administration plan to offer buyouts to federal workers. The deadline to decide was Thursday night. Here's what we know.

As thousands of federal workers agonize over whether they should try to keep their jobs or submit to an unprecedented resignation push from President Trump, a legal battle is quickly taking shape, adding another complicated layer to an already chaotic situation.

Eligible federal workers must decide by 11:59 pm ET on Thursday whether to take the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer, which will allow them to leave their jobs but be paid through the end of September.

Millions of U.S. government employees face a Thursday deadline to decide whether to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration or remain in their position. Those who choose to stay may still risk being laid off.

Millions of federal workers who received an unprecedented resignation offer from the Trump administration last week must decide whether they’re willing to go into the office five days a week, or leave now and (potentially) be paid through September.