A US judge on Wednesday lifted his pause on a controversial federal worker buyout offer, under which President Donald Trump is encouraging government employees to resign but be paid through September.

The move, meant to reduce the size of the government workforce, was paused late last week, as unions representing federal workers fought the program. 

However US District Judge George O'Toole of Massachusetts stated the unions lacked legal standing to challenge the measure, thereby concluding that the "temporary restraining order previously entered is dissolved."