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.

By midnight today, federal workers must decide whether to accept or reject Trump’s buyout offer. What will happen to those who reject the offer and decide not to resign?

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.