WASHINGTON

A US district court judge extended Monday his freeze on President Donald Trump's buyout offer to the nation's 2 million federal employees that is intended to greatly reduce the size of the government.

Judge George O’Toole Jr. said from the bench that he is halting the plan "until I respond to the issues presented," according to multiple reports. O'Toole, who had put the buyout offer on hold last week, offered no firm timeline by which he will reach a ruling on the suit brought by the American Federation of Government Employees and other unions.

Democracy Forward, a nonprofit that formally brought the suit forward on behalf of the unions, said shortly after O'Toole Jr. rendered his decision that it was "pleased that the court has continued to pause implementation of the so-called 'buy out' for non-partisan civil servants."

"People and communities across the nation depend on a non-partisan, committed civil service. It is important that the American people have the backs of the people who serve us all and that is why we will continue to pursue this case," President and CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement.

Federal workers initially had until 11:59 pm on Thursday to accept the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" offer, which claims workers who accept the deal will be paid until October without having to work. But Democrats have warned that Trump lacks the authority to make the offer in the first place, warning Congress has not provided any funding for the program.

About 65,000 people have accepted the offer, according to the White House.