In interviews, federal employees expressed dread and uncertainty over the looming deadline to tell the Trump administration whether they’ll accept a buyout — or stay on the job.

The administration set a deadline for Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for employees to decide on the offer. But a federal judge in Massachusetts paused the deadline until at least a hearing set for Monday at 2 p.

President Donald Trump is facing legal hurdles in his efforts to shrink the federal government. The latest coming from a federal judge who is pausing the implementation of the White House’s buyout offer to all federal workers until Monday after employee unions filed suit arguing it violates federal law.